1i1

Republic of The Gambia

The Gambia National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS-GAM)

And

Implementation Action plan (2020-2024)

Prepared by:

Dr. Peter Gibba

and Mr. Bubu Pateh Jallow

ii

Republic of The Gambia

The Gambia National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS-GAM)

And

Implementation Action plan (2020-2024)

Prepared by:

Dr. Peter Gibba

and Mr. Bubu Pateh Jallow

1i1

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AATG Action-Aid The Gambia ACMAD African Centre for Meteorological Application and Development ACU Agricultural Communication Unit AEMET Spanish Meteorological Agency AGRHYMET Agriculture, Hydrology and Meteorology ANR Agriculture and Natural Resources AQI Air Quality Index AR5 Fifth Assessment Report ARC AGRHYMET Regional Center AWS Automatic Weather Stations CBOs Community Base Organisations CC Climate Change CCA Climate Change Adaptation CCEWS II Climate Change Early Warning System Phase II Project CRR Central River Region CSPC Climate Service Providers’ Committee DLS Department of Livestock Services DOA Department of Agriculture DRM Disaster Risk Management DRR Disaster Risk Reduction DWR Department of Water Resources ECMWF European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecast EIA Environment Impact Assessment ENSO El Niño-Southern Oscillation EUMETSAT European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites EWS Early Warning Systems FAO Food and Agriculture Organization GBOS Gambia Bureau of Statistics GCAA Gambia Civil Aviation Authority GCOS Global Climate Observing System GFCS Global Framework for Climate Services GHGs Greenhouse Gases GIS Geographic Information System GMA Gambia Maritime Agency GRCS Gambia Red Cross Society GRTS Gambia Radio and Television Services GTS Global Telecommunication System IBCS Intergovernmental Board on Climate Services ICAO International Civil Aviation Authority ICT Information, Communication and Telecommunication

ii

IFRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies INDC Intended Nationally Determined Contribution to the UNFCCC IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ITCZ Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone IRI International Research Institute IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature IWRM Integrated Water Resource Management JAS July August September MDGs Millennium Development Goals MDFTs Multidisciplinary Facilitation Teams MESA Monitoring of Environment for Security in Africa MoFWR&NAMs Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources MSMEs Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises MWG Multi-disciplinary Working Group NAMA Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions NAPA National Adaptation Programme of Actions NAPs National Adaptation Plans NARI National Agricultural Research Institute NBR North Bank Region NCCP National Climate Change Policy NCSA National Capacity Self-Assessment NDMA National Disaster Management Agency NDP National Development Plan NEA National Environment Agency NEMA National Environmental Management Act NFCS National Framework for Climate Services NFCS-GAM The Gambia National Framework for Climate Services NGOs Non-Governmental Organisations NHS National Hydrological Services NMHSs National Meteorological and Hydrological Services NMS National Meteorological Services NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration OMVG Organization for the implementation of River Gambia PAGE Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment PIWP Participatory Integrated Watershed Project RMP Research, Modelling and Prediction RCC Regional Climate Centres RCOF Regional Climate Outlook Forum SAC Scientific Advisory Committee SDGs Sustainable Development Goals SLR Sea Level Rise SMS Short Message Service TDMP Tourism Development Master Plan UKMO United Kingdom Meteorological Office

iii

UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environmental Program UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNISDR United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction UTG University of The Gambia UV Ultraviolet WASCAL West African Science Services Centre for Climate Change and Adapted Land-use WB World Bank WCC-3 Third World Climate Conference WCDR World Conference on Disaster Reduction WCR West Coast Region WFP World Food Programme WHYCOS World Hydrological Cycle Observing System WHO World Health Organization WMO World Meteorological Organization

iv

LIST OF FIGURES Title Page Figure 1: Priority sectors for the NFCS-GAM 9 Figure 2. Diagramme of principal actors at global, regional and national scale to support The Gambia to implement its NFCS ………………………………………………………

21

Figure 3: National Network of Meteorological Stations (superimposed rainfall map) … 38 Figure 4: Organization Chart of the National Framework for Climate Services in The Gambia ……………………………………………………………………………………...

56

LIST OF TABLES Title Page Table 1: Selected national priorities aligned to the NFCS ………………………………... 15 Table 2: Role of GFCS members in the provision of climate services …………………… 22 Table 3: Action plan for identified needs by sector ……………………………………… 25 Table 4: Action plan for identified transversal needs …………………………………….. 33 Table 5: SWOT analysis for the Department of Water Resources ……………………….. 37 Table 6: Selected priority activities to reduce gaps ………………………………………. 44 Table 7: WMO recommended distances between measuring station …………………….. 47 Table 8: Estimated standard number of stations for The Gambia ………………………… 48 Table 9: Short-term activities and costs …………………………………………………… 54 Table 10: Cost of activities in the short and medium terms ………………………………. 54

v

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page Abbreviations and acronyms ……………………………………………………………………….. i List of figures ………………………………………………………………………………………. iv List of tables …………………………………………………………………………………….. … iv Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………………… v Resume ……………………………………………………………………………………………… vii INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................

1

CLIMATIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONTEX AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF THE GAMBIA ................................................................................................................

3

OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE NFCS-GAM ................................. 6 SECTION I: STATE OF CLIMATE SERVICES IN THE GAMBIA ................................. 9 1.1 NFCS Sectoral priorities of The Gambia ................................................................... 9 1.1.1 Agriculture and food security ...................................................................... 10 1.1.2 Disaster management and risk reduction ..................................................... 11 1.1.3 Health Services ............................................................................................ 12 1.1.4 Water Resources .......................................................................................... 13 1.1.5 Renewable energy ........................................................................................ 14 1.2 Selected national priorities aligned to the NFCS-GAM ....................... 15

1.3 Inventory and description of existing initiatives on climate services for the five priority sectors of the NFCS-GAM ...........................................................................

18

1.4 Role of stakeholders in the provision of climate services ......................................... 22 SECTION 2: ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF CAPACITY ..................................... 24 2.1 Review of current status of production of climate information services ................ 36 2.2 Categories and Types of Climate Information and Services ..................................... 39 2.2.1 Public Weather Services .............................................................................. 39 2.2.2 Seasonal Climate Outlook ........................................................................... 39 2.2.3 Dekadal Famine Early Warning (agrometeorological) bulletin ................. 40 2.2.4 Annual Climate Reports ............................................................................... 40 2.2.5 Tailored information for users ..................................................................... 41 2.2.6 Climate change projections .......................................................................... 41 2.2.7 Research reports ........................................................................................... 42 SECTION 3: PRIORITY ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN TO REDUCE GAPS AND MEET USER NEEDS ................................................................................................

43

3.1 National action plan for the implementation of NFCS-GAM ................................... 46 3.1.1 Description of actions to implement the activities of the NFCS-GAM

Action Plan ................................................................................................................

46

vi

3.2 Timeline of planned priority activities ....................................................................... 53 SECTION 4: Proposed institutional arrangement for Implementation of NFCS-GAM .... 55 SECTION 5: SECTORAL POLICIES AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORKS ............... 57 5.1 The Gambia’s commitment to climate change .......................................................... 57 5.2 Existing legislative frameworks ................................................................................. 57 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................. 60 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 63

ANNEXES Annex 1: Work plan for the implementation of major activities of the NFCS-GAM ........ 67 Annex 2: Draft Bill on the organization and operation of NFCS-GAM ............................... 67

vii

Executive Summary The challenge of improving the resilience of communities to climate vulnerabilities, risks and disasters is a key element in the strategies and solutions envisioned by the Government of The Gambia (GoTG), and stated in the National Development Plan as well as in both the Agriculture & Natural Resources and National Climate Change Policies. While the answer seems to be the existence of dedicated structures with an organizational system, the provision of adapted sectoral services to cope with extreme weather and climate risks is becoming increasingly important. At global level, this concern is supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which at its Third World Climate Conference (WCC-3) of Ministers and Heads of State of member countries held from 31 August to 4 September 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland, adopted the process for the implementation of a Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). It was decided through the conference declaration that a GFCS be established to strengthen the production, availability, delivery and application of science-based climate monitoring and prediction services. Meanwhile, at country level, the National Framework for Climate Services for The Gambia (NFCS-GAM) is the country’s response to the declaration of the WCC-3. In practice, it is the establishment of a coordination framework that will allow the provision of meteorological and climate information adapted to the needs of users, and the ability to reach end-users to better inform their decision-making, both at the national, regional and community levels. The overarching goal of the NFCS-GAM is:

To enable better management of the risks of climate variability and change at all levels, through development and incorporation of science based climate information

and prediction services into planning, policy and practice. This initiative is expected to reduce the huge human and financial losses in The Gambia that stem from climate related disasters (floods, droughts, strong winds, heat waves, etc.), and taking advantage of prevention opportunities, which limits the adverse effects of high-impact weather events and climate variability. The NFCS-GAM is a framework for exchanges between experts involved in producing information on weather, climate and water (in this case Department of Water Resources) and other experts in the sectors concerned, but also with end-users. The main institutional players include among others: National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), National Environment Agency (NEA), Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Health Services, Department of Energy, Action-Aid The Gambia (AATG), Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, Fisheries Department, Ministry of Tourism.

viii

A Scientific and Technical Committee (STC) and a Steering Committee under the supervision of the Inter-ministerial Committee, comprising some government departments and NGOs as mentioned in Annex 2 are proposed to provide leadership for the NFCS-GAM. This will be the operational legal and institutional framework for the large scale production, processing and extension of climate services for sectors and communities vulnerable to climate variability and change in The Gambia. The NFCS-GAM needs to be designed to be user driven, and to address the entire value chain for the production and application of climate services. The main focus of the NFCS- GAM also needs to be on climate sensitive sectors as identified in the NDP namely: (1) Agriculture and food security, (2) Disaster risk reduction, (3) Water resource management, (4) Health and (5) Energy. The NFCS-GAM needs to be geared towards producing sector specific products in order to promote effective decision making in climate-sensitive sectors. In general, the climate affects all sectors and taking into account its effects makes it possible to make better use of development strategies and the planning of operational activities. As a result, all sectors need climate information to limit adverse impacts and seize opportunities related to climate change. For example, in the field of agriculture, a better knowledge of the variation of the water resources is necessary for the varietal choice and the cultivation options. The rise in temperatures, which leads to increased evapotranspiration, must also be indicated for quality monitoring of crops. For the health sector, information on heat waves which is harmful for the body, sand and dust storm having an impact on the respiratory diseases and the episodes of meningitis, heavy rains which can lead to water-borne diseases are needed. In terms of energy, information on wind and solar potential and the impacts of their variability on production prospects will improve renewable options. For tourism, detailed climatology and forecasting, determining the evolution of extreme events, and ocean levels and seasonal forecasts are key factors that allow tourism services to plan current and future activities. Information on future climate projections is an essential tool of adaptation in the face of an increasingly changing climate. This will support the need to develop capacities to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change as well as mitigation capacities for greenhouse gas emissions. Improved response capabilities require improved anticipation capabilities. Thus, on the basis of the identification of existing gaps, it is appropriate to propose solutions for improving anticipation capacity through information and forecasts, making it possible to set up a system of early warnings and rapid actions. The NFCS-GAM must adopt the five pillars of the GFCS as recommended during the National Consultation Workshop towards the establishment of NFCS-GAM held in Banjul in June 2018. The NFCS- GAM must also strive to enhance climate observations and monitoring information, and transforming it into sector specific products and applications that can be disseminated widely.

ix

Thus, it will also be necessary to develop an adequate communication network and strategy, in order to promote better access and greater synergy with existing climate platforms and databases. It will also be necessary to cover climate risks not yet and / or insufficiently covered, and improve the technical capabilities of actors, observation networks and forecasting and information systems. The infrastructural development of in the network of stations and the improvement of data collection mechanisms is also a necessity for the well function of the NFCS-GAM. Therefore, the management of NFCS-GAM must ensure a strong mobilization of all the actors to guarantee its functioning and its durability by a development of the knowledge, a mobilization of the capacities and resources necessary to the assigned missions. In this system, it is worth noting the advocacy necessary for the involvement and commitment of institutional and political actors, in the country. Similarly, the mobilization of additional resources for the implementation of the action plan proposed in this document is imperative.

1

INTRODUCTION Climate change has emerged as one of the most devastating environmental threats and key challenges to development in the world over (UNDP, 2007). It is manifested by an exacerbation of climate variability and extreme weather events. The loss of life, damage to infrastructure and other impacts of adverse weather and climate have recently not only presented unprecedented challenges to government, but particularly to vulnerable communities. The damage costs due to extreme weather-related events (flooding, storms and drought) are found to be significantly elevated over recent decades. In light of the above, a scene has been set for the need to improve the understanding of climate variability and climate predictions, and the way in which climate data and information is analysed and provided to serve the needs of society. In short, a need has been identified to improve on the country’s weather and climate forecasting and prediction capabilities, services and applications to address adaptation to climate variability and change. In response to this important need, the Third World Conference of Ministers and Heads of State of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) held in 2009 launched the process of creating a Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) that was adopted by the World Meteorological Organization. WMO Special Congress 2012 also established an Intergovernmental Council on Climate Services to oversee the implementation of the framework. The Global Framework for Climate Services aims to support vulnerable governments and communities to better manage the risks associated with climate variability and change. It is in this context that the Intergovernmental Council on Climatological Services then urged WMO Member States to establish national frameworks. For individual countries, the frameworks will enhance local decision making through improved access to global climate data and products. Partnerships between the providers of climate information and services and the user communities will be essential for assigning clear roles and responsibilities, including mandates for the collection and assembling of climate data and information, for the development and delivery of climate products and services, and for promoting the uptake and use of those products and services. It is in this regard, that the Department of Water Resources, under the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources in collaboration with WMO, and with funding support from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) organised a consultative workshop in June 2018 to establish a National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) for The Gambia. This framework will serve as the platform for the coordination of climate services activities in the country.

2

The workshop also strongly suggested the development of this present action plan; the purpose of which is to highlight, in the light of the Gambia's realities of taking into account the climate and its challenges, the prerequisites necessary for the establishment of a harmonized national framework for production, communication and use of adapted climate services. It is proposed for an effective decision-making tool to curb the risks and uncertainties related to climate variability and change. This report contains extensive background on the global initiatives towards ensuring climate resilient communities, including the GFCS. It identifies the existing mechanisms in the provision of climate services and the dissemination of information to end-users. The priority sectors selected are: Agriculture and Food Security, Water Resources, Disaster Risk Reduction, Health, Energy, Tourism, Transport and Fisheries as recommended during the consultative workshop for the establishment of The Gambia National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS-GAM). Secondly, the report also refers to an identification of existing climate consultation frameworks in The Gambia. The sub section has the advantage of providing information on the actors' activities and makes it possible to better analyse the roles of the various national and institutional actors with regard to their missions and objectives. Thirdly, the report mentioned about the legal and regulatory frameworks that lays the legal basis for the Gambia National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS-GAM). It certainly has the advantage of considering the principle of subsidiary and will favour a better dialogue between actors. The report also recommends the NFCS-GAM to advocate for the establishment of both a Climate Service Provider Committee (CSPC) and a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). These will be responsible and be accountable to the successful operationalisation of the various pillars in line with GFCS requirements, and also for the development of strategies for resources mobilization to sustain the operationalization process. Finally, the report proposes action plans and identified needs for the implementation of the NAFS-GAM.

3

CLIMATIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONTEX AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF THE GAMBIA Country context The Gambia is a small West African state situated along the Gambia River covering a surface area of 11,360 km2. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Republic of Senegal along all other borders. The country sits within the Soudan-Sahel, the meridional transition zone between the semi-arid Sahel with the Sahara Desert further north, and the more southerly forest regions of West Africa. Rainfall is largely seasonal, with 80% falling during the months of July to September at the time of the northward-most departure of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) across Africa. Much of Gambia’s rainfall comes from squall lines (lines of intense thunderstorms) associated with systems that form over the Ethiopian Highlands under the influence of the sub-tropical jet stream emanating from the Indian monsoon and thence move westwards; these systems continue out across the Atlantic Ocean some ultimately forming into hurricanes that may strike the Caribbean or North America. Given this, major factors determining inter-annual rainfall variations over The Gambia are changes to varying degrees in tropical sea surface temperatures in all three ocean basins, a system that includes influences from El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The country is located on the flood plain of the Gambia River, and flanked by savannah and low hills, with the highest elevation of 53 metres above sea level (GOTG, 2012a). It has 80 km of open ocean coast and approximately 200 km of sheltered coast within the tidal reaches of the River Gambia. Its rich biodiversity is due to the combination of its geographical position and the central presence of the River Gambia (GOTG, 2014). However, habitat destruction as a result of urbanization, cultivation, uncontrolled burning, and wood utilization has led to local species extinction and degradation of ecosystem services. Comparison of the most recent forest inventory against earlier records reveals a declining forest cover from 505,300 hectares in 1981/1982 to 423,000 hectares in the 2009/2010 forest inventory. The total population in 2013 was approximately 1.9 million, with an annual growth rate of about 3%, linked to a high birth rate and a decline in the infant mortality rate; around 40% of the population is between 13 and 30 years of age (GBOS, 2013). Classified as a Least Developed Country (LDC), The Gambia is one of the poorest countries in Africa, ranking 165th out of 187 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) in 2013. Observed and projected trends in temperatures and rainfall Climate data analysis revealed that temperatures across The Gambia have increased in recent

4

years. The Second National Communication (GoTG, 2012a) indicated an increasing trend of temperature by 0.5°C per decade since the 1940s. While there is limited convergence on the rate of temperature change, it is certain that temperatures will continue to increase although with broad ranges to the magnitude of the changes. Temperature is projected to reach over 7°C in the ensemble mean for interior Gambia by the end of the 21st century including increases in the numbers of “hot” days and nights and the length of heat waves. Historical climate records in The Gambia indicate a shift in the rainfall pattern. From 1950 to 2000, annual rainfall amounts have decreased by about 30%. This decrease has been evident in the reduction in the length of the rainy season and also the quantity of rainfall amounts recorded in the month of August, particularly during the period 1968 to 1985, and in 2002. This pattern has led to devastating droughts during the last three decades of the 20th Century with periods of intense rainfall that have also created increasingly numerous flooding events. This erratic rainfall pattern has some impacts on the farming system, by reducing the length of growing period and the additional mid-season dry spell can create drought conditions for farming purposes even during normal rainfall conditions. There have been at least five significant intense drought episodes (1968, 1972, 1983, 2002 and 2014) between 1951 and 2018. The year 1983 also witnessed the worst climate change induced drought in the Gambia with an average total seasonal record of little over 470mm. There was significant and extreme rainfall reduction in two of these events (1983: 479.50mm and 2002: 577.95mm respectively) when compared to the highest recorded rainfall of 1425.67 mm/year (occurred in 1958) (GoTG/UNDP, 2015). Impacts and vulnerabilities Climate Change manifestations in The Gambia has been translated so far by noticeable environmental changes, including climate variability and extreme events. The Gambia’s climate is of Sahelian nature characterized by high variability in the amount and distribution of annual precipitation and clear increase in temperature values; these combined interactions lead to recurrent drought episodes and dust storms events.

• Temperature and rainfall risks The projected increase in temperature in the ensemble mean for interior Gambia by the end of the century is expected to increase in the numbers of “hot” days and nights and the length of heat waves. In addition, there will be an increase evapotranspiration within a range of 2% to 45% (GoTG, 2012a). An increase in variability of rainfall amount and distribution in the Gambia is also projected. This will result in more frequent extreme events namely, frequent and intense heat waves in the case of temperature and droughts and floods in case of rainfall. Flooding events include flash floods immediately following an abnormally heavy rainfall event, which are

5

compounded by inadequate planning and storm water management infrastructure in urban areas. Catastrophic seasonal floods may also occur along the River Gambia after an above average rainy season. Changes in temperature and rainfall will adversely affect forests. Modelling results suggest that the Gambia’s forest cover will fit more into a dry forest and tropical dry forest categories which will have biodiversity impacts as well as impacts on sensitivity to fires and land degradation.

• Sea level rise risks The Gambia with approximately 50% of the total land area being less than 20m above sea level, and about 33% of the country below 10m above mean sea level, is one of the most vulnerable countries in Africa to the adverse impacts of climate change. Any substantial global warming-induced sea level rise could immerse much of the country. About 20% of the country is currently flooded annually. The mangrove ecosystems, which is dilapidated through widespread logging are also affected by saline intrusion as well as flooding. Brown et al., 2011 projected significantly higher sea level rise in The Gambia of 0.13m in 2025, 0.35m in 2050, 0.72m in 2075 and 1.23m in 2100 (in comparison with 1995 levels). A one metre rise in sea level would inundate 60% of mangrove forests, 33% of swamp area and 20% of rice growing areas, assuming no protection. Areas in the Upper River end of the country would also be affected. Saline water would infiltrate ground water aquifers, especially considering that the Gambia sits on top of a shallow sand aquifer with depths of between 4 and 50m (GoTG/UNDP, 2015). Socioeconomic Sector Agriculture remains the most important sector of the Gambian economy, contributing 32% of GDP, and providing employment and income for at least 75% of the rural population. The tourism industry contributes 12% - 16% of GDP, supports over 35,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs, and generates over US$ 85 million in foreign exchange earnings. Services accounted for the remaining - and majority - percentage of GDP, with transport, communications, retail and finance being the main components. The fast-growing Information, Communication and Telecommunication (ICT) sub-sector is a major contributor to the services sector. Trade has traditionally played an important role in the economy, with exports largely comprising re-exports; domestic goods account for only 5% of merchandise exports. The country remains an important supplier of foreign manufactured goods and other essential items to the sub-region. Locally produced goods include groundnuts, and to a lesser extent cashews and fisheries exports. Approximately 54% of the land area in The Gambia is arable (540,000 ha), out of which about 39% (188,000ha) is currently farmed, mainly by subsistence farmers; less than 2,000 ha of the 81,000 ha of irrigable land are currently under irrigation (GoTG, 2017). Most rural households

6

do not generate enough produce or income from farming activities to meet annual needs, and therefore rely heavily on ecosystem goods and services derived from woodlands, savannas, wetlands, mangroves and rivers to supplement their livelihoods (GoTG, 2012b). Despite good efforts, falling cereal production now accounts for only 60% of annual consumption requirements; thus the country relies on food imports, especially for the main staple food of rice. Poor energy and transportation infrastructure have multiple economic, social and health-related impacts, and result in high logistical costs that burden the private sector and reduce its ability to create jobs. Although above average by Sub-Saharan African standards, the quality of road infrastructure is poor due to maintenance neglect, with 82.5% of the network in poor condition and contributing to high cost of vehicle maintenance (GoTG, 2017). The country has experienced a number of external shocks, including the 2011 drought that reduced agricultural output and economic performance, and the outbreak of Ebola in 2014, which had serious negative consequences on the Gambia’s tourism industry. Within this context, remittances have been increasing for over a decade at a rate of about 12% per annum, currently standing at about $181 million per annum, which represents about 22% of GDP; they thus may have potential as a source for long-term capital expenditures, particularly for large infrastructure projects (GoTG, 2017). The NDP document (GoTG, 2017) recognises the untapped potential of the Gambian private sector, which is dominated by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), mainly operating in the productive sectors: 97% of businesses have less than 5 employees (formal or informal sector); small firms (5 to 9 employees) make up 2.2% of the private sector; while medium and large firms comprise less than 1% of firms. The unemployment rate stood at 29.8% in 2012, with the youth unemployment at 38%. Female youth are less likely to be employed or in education, and more likely to be inactive (31% against 27% for male youth) (GoTG, 2012b). Increasing joblessness and under-employment is linked to a sense of desperation and helplessness, driving many youth to seek opportunities elsewhere, including illegal migration to Europe. The NDP notes that almost 99% of all domestically employed Gambians are engaged in sectors with extremely low labour productivity (GoTG, 2017). This, combined with high poverty and fertility rates, constitutes an extremely challenging development context. OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE NFCS-GAM Main objectives The NFCS-GAM action plan aims to consolidate and promote the production, provision, access, effective application of relevant and easily understandable weather and climate information and

7

services to support strategies and action plans with respect to users’ needs in order to contribute to the reduction of the negative impacts of climate change in The Gambia. Specific objectives The specific objectives of this plan are to:

• Review the recommendations of the roadmap of the national consultation workshop for NFCS implementation in The Gambia, translate them into actions and estimate costs;

• Satisfy the priority needs identified by the AMCOMET Technical Meeting of Experts (African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology, Praia, February 2015);

• Strengthen the DWR's human resources and infrastructure capacities; • Ensure the quality of the data; • Effectively implement WMO's Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) at the

national level; • Provide quality climate services that meet the needs of users; • Satisfy the real needs of the users who are the customers and the decision-makers in order

to obtain a fruitful partnership; • Strengthen the country's coverage of meteorological and hydrological observation points; • Bridging gaps to build operational climate databases for different analyzes and

applications; • Contribute to the definition and implementation of multi-hazard early warning systems

on local realities: atmospheric pollution of large cities, floods, epidemics of climate-sensitive diseases through the use of prototype epidemic prevention (malaria for example) in collaboration with research centers on these diseases.

Expected results In the long term, the NFCS-GAM will achieve the following results:

• The production of reliable and diversified meteorological information and climate services meets the needs of partners and end-users;

• Appropriate dissemination of climate information and ease of access to meteorological and climatological data and information through partners and end-users is effective and sustainable;

• Improvement of weather and climate forecasts (daily / dekadal / seasonal) by providers and end-users is accepted by all;

• Capacity building of partners and end-users in terms of understanding and effective use of meteorological information and climate services is satisfactory,

8

• Capacity building of partners and end-users for optimal productivity for improved resilience to weather / climate extremes, climate variability is improved;

• The two-dimensional interaction between users and producers of data and / or weather information and climate services for a permanent and effective update of these products and services is a reality;

• A mechanism for sustainable financing of the activities of the National Meteorological Services and the determination of a sustainable source for its financing is set up.

9

SECTION I: STATE OF CLIMATE SERVICES IN THE GAMBIA This section reviews the main actors and structures essential to the implementation of the national framework for climate services in the Gambia (NFCS). Firstly, it states the missions of different stakeholder structures of climate information and their role in the production, dissemination and use of climate information and services. Then, for each sector, it identified the climate services and products already available and the existing dissemination and sharing efforts. The analysis also provides valuable avenues for collaboration within the NFCS framework. Finally, a blueprint is proposed to specify the necessary interrelations between structures and actors for optimal production and use of climate information. 1.1 NFCS Sectoral priorities of The Gambia In line with the GFCS, the NFCS-GAM has five sectoral priorities as identified in the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP). These climate sensitive sectors that are taken into consideration in the NFCS-GAM are the priority areas as depicted in figure 1 and suggested during the National Consultation Workshop towards the establishment of a National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) in The Gambia in June 2018. The NFCS-GAM should provide benefits for both climate service providers and users within these sectors.

Figure 1: Priority sectors for the NFCS-GAM.

10

1.1.1 Agriculture and food security The Gambia is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because of the dependence of the country on rain-fed agriculture and the natural resource base, and a situation of increasing population, widespread poverty and rapidly degrading environmental conditions. Agricultural production is therefore still largely controlled by weather and climate, despite the impressive advances in agricultural technology over the last few years. The drivers of rural vulnerability include the absence of capacity to overcome the impacts of climate change, particularly the increasingly shortening of the growing period with late onset and early cessation of rains; the growing migration flux of young people, the main workforce, towards the urban centres and abroad, enlarging the number of women headed households; and the deficient technical support to adopt adaptive options that would enhance resilience to the shortening of the growing period. As it is, frequent dry spells in the middle of the rainy season limit farming activities such as ploughing, sowing and planting before the arrival of the dry spell. As a result, many areas of The Gambia with mixed crop-livestock systems with large number of animals have see decreases in the quantity and quality of crop residues, putting further pressure on livestock feeding resources, increasing conflict between livestock keepers and farmers, and thus reducing food security. Agricultural decisions makers; such as government policy makers, agricultural extension services, farmers, research and university institutions, agribusiness and crop insurance industry, and farm management groups can make better informed decisions by using climate services, and as a result the sector and society will benefit from improved resilience to climate extremes and from increased and more reliable agricultural productivity. Farmers will make better planting, harvesting and marketing decisions through improved forecasts, predictions and projections. Weather & seasonal climate forecasts are invaluable tools for deciding:

• Which crop varieties to plant and when to plant, • The best time to spray during crop growth periods, • When plant disease outbreaks are likely to occur, and • Estimating the quantity of water that will be needed for irrigation and livestock in

drought-prone periods and regions. Key climate variables for agricultural decision making include rainfall, soil moisture, temperature and solar radiation, supplemented with evaporation, humidity, and wind speed, which are more easily available and understood by agricultural and rural communities to improving yields and livelihoods.

11

To address the adaptation efforts in this sector, there are national strategic guidelines federated in the ANR Policy and the National Development Plan. These initiatives have been supported by other projects. The West Africa Agricultural Meteorology Project / METAGRI, supported by the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) which has helped raise farmers' awareness of climate risk for agriculture and strengthening the country's capacity to collect rainfall data for decision-making purposes. The NEMA Chooso Project funded by IFAD and the Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change (AACC) implemented by the FAO have for objective to reduce the impact of climate change and significantly contribute to food security in the country. Although these initiatives have helped to strengthen Gambia's capacity to produce climate information and services, their limited scope has not addressed the unreliable nature and the low capacity of the hydro-meteorological station network to provide services to prevent and manage climate-related risks in the medium and long term. 1.1.2 Disaster management and risk reduction The Gambia, like other countries of the African continent, is not immune to disasters. A 2009 national water report on adaptation in The Gambia provides details of the impacts of experienced droughts and floods. The report indicates that between 1951-2007 the year 1983 witnessed the worst drought. Other drought years experienced in The Gambia are 1968, 1972, 1983,1984,1991, 2002 and 2014, with 1983 and being the worst drought years (479.50mm and 577.95mm respectively). This can be compared with the highest recorded rainfall which occurred in 1958 (1425.7 mm). Other records of floods in The Gambia date back to pre-independence era, notable among them was that of 1948, 1954, 1955 and 1956 affecting the Greater Banjul Area (GBA). In recent years, 1988, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2012, both riverine floods and flash floods occurred. The flash floods affected mostly the GBA where the drainage system is very poor, whilst riverine floods occurred in part of CRR and Upper River Region (URR). Climate services can provide crucial information for the prevention, preparation, contingency planning and development planning. This includes improving risk assessments based on the forecasting, prediction and projection of hydro-meteorological hazards. The increasing frequency of natural disasters (floods, drought, disease epidemic) related to human activity or technology (deforestation, bush fires etc.), sometimes significant in an

12

unfavourable socio-economic environment, has led the state and communities to make the decision to control or mitigate the effects of disasters. The Government of The Gambia supported this decision, which translates into:

• Establishment of the National Disaster Management Agency • Development of laws and regulations related to disaster management in The Gambia • The development and implementation of a national disaster management plan, • Implementation of project including: Using Drones and Early Warning Systems for Pre-

and Post-Floods Disaster Management in The Gambia. 1.1.3 Health Services In The Gambia, like many African countries, human health has always been influenced by climate and weather. The alternation of seasons coincides with the emergence and preponderance of climate-dependent diseases. In recent years, the need for collaboration between the climate and health sectors has increased, along with the need to better manage health risks related to climate variability and change. To this end, health services are seeking better access to meteorological and climatological information, as well as better interpretation and use of this information, for decision-making on policy, research and development and practical practices in the field of health. Following the information gathered during the various interviews, the health sector uses a very limited range of types of climate services, which are often limited to heat and cold waves, dust mists and extreme weather events. The Ministry of health and Social Welfare through the Department of Public Health Services in charge of Epidemiology is aware of the issues and implements strategies for integrating climate information into health policies and practices. As such, this Department wants to implement a plan for adaptation of the health sector to climate change and is keenly interested in the installation of pollution and ultraviolet radiation measuring stations within the country. In terms of climate-health studies, the field of health needs data on rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind, dust, etc. Precipitation, temperature and humidity are the three climate variables that most influence malaria transmission. The abundant rainfall tends to increase the mosquito population, because they create more breeding sites (stagnant surface water). They also cause increased air humidity, especially when it is above 60% promotes mosquito survival and malaria transmission. The increase in temperature also accelerates the development of the mosquito as well as the multiplication of Plasmodium parasite. The Entomological and Epidemiological Services of the Ministry of Health request basic climatological information and services on the prediction of the seasonal rainfall trend. They

13

would also like information on predicting the seasonal temperature trend for cerebrospinal meningitis. Assistance on the use of these data for the development of climate-dependent disease and disease prediction models is needed. In this context, joint activities and promotion of health climate studies are to be defined in consultation between climate scientists and those of health. Hence, the establishment of climate-health working group is essential. 1.1.4 Water Resources Projections in The Gambia are for an increase in temperature, resulting therefore in an increase in evaporation and evapotranspiration. While there are large uncertainties on the impact of climate change on precipitation, models converge in predicting more variability in rainfall patterns, with increased occurrence of extreme events like intense precipitation or longer periods of dry weather. These two factors will contribute to disruption of the water cycle in The Gambia, which will affect the soil water holding capacity, leading to longer periods of water deficit and more frequent floods. This will affect rainfed farming, through increased variations in river runoff and groundwater recharge, as well as livestock feeding and watering. (AGRER, 2017). Any action that reduces sensitivity and exposure to these hazards, or increases the capacity to respond or react, will have a positive impact on resilience of the Gambian farming communities. Climate services can underpin the planning and management of surface water supplies (hydrology) and disaster risk reduction and are essential for calculations regarding the frequency and duration of heavy rainfall, the probable maximum precipitation, low flow and flood forecasting including water resources assessment. The design of water infrastructure such as dams, irrigation systems, flood protection systems, etc. need to be integrated with information on forward looking trends of rainfall and related return period of extremes. At the operational level, water resources managers can use climate information to optimise water supply, flood management and even the generation of hydroelectricity. However, in The Gambia, the collection of these factors on weekly, seasonal and annual time scales at national, regional and local levels is limited. The information if collected and shared with stakeholders at all levels will promote the development of operational water management strategies, including flood and drought preparedness and response. Users in this sector can use climate information to understand current and future water resource availability. There is a need to conserve water through the balancing of consumption and irrigation needs in order to enable preparedness for anticipated floods and droughts.

14

The current management of water resources, because of its cross-cutting nature, comes from a wide range of governmental, parastatals and non-governmental technical institutions. The institutions and technical structures concerned it include:

• Shared water resources management institutions, such as the Niger Basin Authority, OMVG; OMVS, etc. ;

• State, through the department of water resources; • National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC); • Private and associative sector;

In the current institutional framework in The Gambia, the central role is played by the Department of Water Resources and NAWEC in charge of implementing the Water and Energy policy. This ministry is responsible for developing and implementing the National Water Resources Policy. 1.1.5 Renewable energy The renewable energy sector occupies a prominent place in the National Development Plan. It is considered a major tool in the fight against poverty through its ability to create jobs and boost the economy. This is why, in the NDP, the development of production capacities occupies a prominent place without obscuring the improvement of energy coverage in rural areas and the increase in renewable energy supply. These new orientations also make energy mix a requirement to make the choices made in terms of energy autonomy more sustainable. The NFCS will work particularly with the renewable energies and infrastructure and energy management divisions, whose needs for climate information are large. To better determine the potential for renewable energy, a number of climatic parameters are needed, including:

• sunshine data on climatic zones at a frequency (5 to 10 minutes); • wind data (on climatic zones at a frequency of 10 minutes maximum); • meteorological parameters on climatic zones at the same time step; • wind profile to find the variation of the wind according to the height; • hydrological data of major watercourses (flows at strategic points, intensity and history of

floods, etc.); The NFCS-GAM will certainly assist users in this sector, in particular energy parastatals, municipalities, and independent power producers in their decision making and operational planning. It will further enable Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and society to meaningfully participate in energy planning processes.

15

1.2 Selected national priorities aligned to the NFCS-GAM In line with the national priority objectives, the NFCS aims to contribute to the implementation of certain priority strategies and policies by improving on the country’s weather and climate forecasting and prediction capabilities, services and applications to address adaptation to climate variability and change. The inter-linked challenges of reducing poverty, supporting sustainable livelihoods, and tackling climate change in The Gambia require all sectors to co-create and implement sustainable and climate-resilient pathways. The first step was taken with the collaborative development of the long-term vision, as set out in the National Climate Change Policy. This collaborative approach to defining the country’s climate resilient development trajectory has been continued and extended by means of the extensive national and regional consultations carried out to develop the NFCS-GAM. Table 2.1 below describes the linkages between the NFCS-GAM and some selected sector strategies providing entry points for climate resilient development. Table 1: Selected national priorities aligned to the NFCS Policy/Strategy/Plan Lead Institution Objectives and links to NFCS-GAM Potential role in

NFCS-GAM National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2021 (GoTG, 2017).

Office of the President

To address the complex set of issues, the NDP goal for the environment sector is to ensure that environmental and climate change-friendly policies, programmes and awareness are strengthened at all levels for resilience, including the strengthening of emergency and disaster risk reduction and response at all levels. Good linkages established with CCA and NFCS.

Include the enhancement of EWS for DRR.

Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) of the Gambia,

Department of Water Resources

Technologies identified and technology transfer requirements mentioned in the Second National Communication (SNC) which will also be needed for the implementation of the INDC include among others: • Climate monitoring, forecasting and

dissemination techniques and technologies; Good link established with NFCS and the SNC.

Provision of climate information and services.

National Climate Change Policy (GoTG/EU, 2016)

Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources

The National Climate Change Policy is grounded in the country’s national development and poverty reduction frameworks. It sets out comprehensive and crosscutting policy directions to implement national development strategies in a climate resilient manner, drawing on all sectors of the population in a spirit of partnership and

Integrate CC and CCA into national strategies in order to ensure climate resilient population.

16

collaboration. Good linkages established with CCA.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Policy (GoTG, 2007)

National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA)

To promote priority measures to address already existing vulnerability to hazards, and measures to ensure future development processes and programs strengthen resilience. Includes: • National capacity to identify and monitor

vulnerability and hazard trends • Strengthen local level risk reduction capacity

focusing upon communities, and support linkages with regional and district structures.

• Ensure DRR is systematically integrated into recovery and reconstruction programming, “building back better, safer and stronger”.

• Promote development planning that considers and addresses disaster risks alongside environmental and climate change concerns.

• Strengthen the structural and non structural resilience of key infrastructure and lifelines.

• Creating multi-hazard early warning capacity while building upon existing systems and emphasizing the information and warning needs of vulnerable end-users.

• Strengthen an integrated national disaster preparedness and response capacity from the national to local level.

Good linkages established with CCA.

Include recognition of CC and CCA into DRR advocacy and planning efforts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy, 2017-2026. (GoTG/WB, 2016)

Ministry of Agriculture

• Improved and sustainable measurable levels of food and nutrition security in the country in general and vulnerable populations in particular;

• A Commercialized ANR sector ensuring measurable competitive, efficient, and sustainable food and agricultural value chains, and linkages to markets;

• Institutions (public and private) in the sector are strengthened, and providing needed services, strong and enabling environment, and reducing vulnerability in food and nutrition security;

• Sustainable effective management of the natural resource base of the sector.

Climate change not well mainstreamed.

Integrate CC and CCA into agricultural strategies in order to mitigate risks of CC. Additional source of leadership and support to drive CCA planning.

National Water Resources Policy,

Ministry of Fisheries and

The Water Policy highlights the issues of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in

Integrate CC and CCA into water

17

2006. Water Resources relation to water resource management. The concept of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) to reduce the risks associated with the impact of climate change on water is also mentioned. Good linkages established with CCA.

resources strategies in order to mitigate the risks of CC.

The National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) Roadmap (UNDP, 2015)

Department of Water Resources

The main objectives of the NAPs process are to: • Take a medium and long-term approach to

reducing vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change.

• Facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation (CCA), in a coherent manner, into relevant new and existing policies, programmes and activities, in particular development planning processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate.

Good linkages established with CCA.

Integrate CC and CCA into national strategies in order to mitigate the risks of CC.

Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR) (Agrer, 2017)

Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources

The SPCR identified five priority themes as follows:

• Climate resilient agriculture and rural livelihoods;

• Climate resilient coastal, transport, and urban infrastructure;

• Water supply, sanitation, and waste management;

• Capacity building; and • Climate services value chain. Good linkages established with CC and CCA

Integrate CC and CCA into national strategies in order to ensure climate resilient population.

The Framework is intended to support the implementation of climate change adaptation measures, many of which will require climate services that are not currently adequately available. In particular, it will bridge the gap between the climate information being developed by scientists and service providers with a view to meet the practical needs of users. This shall be obtained through the introduction of such frameworks at both national and sub-national levels. Thus, for such a Framework for Climate Services to work at the national level, national stakeholders have to drive the process and design it in a manner that addresses national needs and priorities in climate services development, production, provision, and utilization. Hence the establishment of the Gambia National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS-GAM) which is led by Department of Water Resources (DWR); a Government Agency under the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources and National Assembly Matters (MoFWRNAM).

18

1.3 Inventory and description of existing initiatives on climate services for the five

priority sectors of the NFCS-GAM. The main stakeholders identified are at three (3) levels: global, regional and national. a. Global stakeholders These are generally all the actors intervening within the framework of the climate-sensitive sectors, representatives of the scientific community (researchers, modellers, observers and those ensuring the forecasts) and spearheaded by the World Meteorological Organization to guide the development and application of science-based climate information and services in support of decision-making. Close coordination is ensured by the following international partners through the GFCS Office which is based at WMO headquarters in Geneva:

• World Meteorological Organization (WMO), • United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), • World Health Organization (WHO), • World Bank (WB), • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), • United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), • International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), • United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), • European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), • Norwegian Refugees Council.

b. Stakeholders at regional level Regional initiatives include Regional Centers for Seasonal Climate Prediction and Multilateral and Regional Development Partners that support regional and national priorities. These regional initiatives consist of regional forums on seasonal climate forecasts, multilateral and regional development banks, donors, regional providers of climate services, regional climate and drought monitoring centers, regional private sector organizations and regional scientific organizations. In addition to these initiatives, there are also regional associations and regional groupings with specialized roles, including regional economic groupings, regional offices of the United Nations

19

Regional Development Representatives, as well as regional offices (ACMAD, AGRHYMET, etc.) and aid agencies. c. Technical sector stakeholders at national level In The Gambia, the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services have always played a central role in the provision and dissemination of climate services to users. However this role needs to be strengthened through the implementation of the NFCS as highlighted in the GFCS Implementation Plan adopted in October 2012 by the WMO Special Congress. Here, we distinguish the following actors in the national chain for climate services, linking early warning to rapid action, which are categorized according to the scope of their mission and their role.

• Generally, state structures working in the area of climate-sensitive sectors and the five priority sectors of the framework in particular.

• National platforms for risk reduction or other similar coordination mechanisms; and other national bodies, such as agriculture, health, coastal and marine resources, water, forests, energy and the environment.

• The government both at national and regional levels, local elected representatives. • Private sector organizations that are likely to be providers and consumers of climate

services. • NGOs, national societies and community organizations. Communicators of climate

information, especially the media (public, community), NGOs, technical services, extension services but also the general public.

d. Users of climate services End-users both at the national level (sectoral planners and national decision-makers) and at community level (farmers, pastoralists and fishermen and other communities vulnerable to climatic risks) need to have access to climate services, produced and disseminated in a manner that will enable better preparation for climate related disasters and risk management. From an analysis of the different end users of climate services, it was established that users of climate services are diverse and need different types and formats of climate services for various reasons. The landscape of selected climate services users can be presented as follows: General public: This refers to the individual residents of the country. The general public can use climate services to better prepare for extreme weather and climate events. The public can prepare for extreme rain, temperature, wind storms, heat waves etc if information is disseminated on time and in the required format.

ü Academic and research institutions: These include a number of institutions including the University of the Gambia (UTG), National Agricultural Research Institute etc. These

20

institutions can serve as both users and providers of climate services. The institutions are mainly government institutions who require climate services in the form of data and information and use this to conduct research which can be either climate related or not. In some cases, climate data can be combined with non-climate data to produce the required outputs.

ü Government institutions: These include institutions like government departments,

regional departments, municipalities, parastatals, disasters management centers and other government entities. Government institutions need climate information and products to adapt and mitigate climate change impact. These include the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), NDMA, Gambia Maritime Agency (GMA) etc.

ü Media: The media include the following organizations: Television and radio

broadcasting institutions and newspaper print companies. They require climate services from the providers to be able to broadcast or publish climate information and products to the broader user communities within the area of reach.

ü Non-governmental organizations: These include the CBOs and NGOs that have a

responsibility to ensure that their beneficiaries are better prepared to climate risk and disasters. They can also provide capacity development, and implementation of climate information and products.

Private sector: The private sector in The Gambia is a key partner of the government for food security. However, private companies are not necessarily aware of the important role they can play in disaster prevention through the provision of climate services. These companies include The Gambian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and some commercial banks. All of these actors are represented in the summary figure 2 below and according to their role in the national chain for climate services in The Gambia.

21

Figure 2. Diagramme of principal actors at global, regional and national scale to support The Gambia to implement its NFCS

International and national research partners

Provision of information at global and regional level

• Global Centres

• Regional production centres

Sectoral Experts, co-producers Administrations, research institutions,

Universities, professional organisations of sectors identified by

the NFCS

Communicators and dissemination channels Early Warning Systems (EWS) MEdia: tv,

radio, press, Web page, GSM Operators, NGO, Farmer organisations,

Final user community Projects support, capacity development, farmers, livestock owners, fisher men,

communities at risk

Final national users• Rural development decision makers, disaster management personels,

planners in public health, bridge constructors, private entreprices, Ministries, NFCS focal points

National Meteorological and

Hydrological Services (DWR)

Provision of climate information at national and local level

Shaping of climate information and Production of climate services

Two-way communication of climate information and services and advice

Donors and development partners

22

1.4. Role of stakeholders in the provision of climate services Following the institutional review, various actors involved in the provision and use of climate information are identified. An analysis of the roles and mandates of these allows to appreciate their role in the national chain for climate services in The Gambia in relation to their mandate. However, the optimal functioning of this scheme requires a mapping of the actors to specify them according to the areas of intervention and the response capacities of each stakeholder. The following table gives an overview of the role of different stakeholders in the provision of climate services in The Gambia. Table 2: Role of GFCS members in the provision of climate services Name of the institution

Mandate

Current interventions in the field of climate services

Potential role in the national chain for climate services

DWR -Meteorology

Civil Aviation and Meteorology Climate change and NAPs

• Measurement of climatic parameters • Archiving of data • Production of information at different scales • Evaluation • Research and development

1. Provider 2. Communication

DWR -Hydrology

Management and planning of water resources

• Production of hydrological bulletins • Technical notes

1. Provider 2.Sectoral technical partner for the co-production

Department of Fisheries

Management of the safety of artisanal fishermen and development of industrial sea fishing

• Dissemination of weather information • Capacity building of users

1. End users 2. Sector technical partner to strengthen marine EWS 3. Provider of information

Department of Agriculture

Management and monitoring of agricultural policies Monitoring of the cropping season

• Provision of seasonal calendar according to the seasonal forecast

• Scaling up of Climate Smart Agriculture • Climate change and NAP process • Crop Monitoring Bulletin (DAANIANO)

1. End users 2. Sector technical partner to strengthen EWS 3. Provider of information

NDMA Risk management and disaster risk reduction

• Mapping flood risk areas • Facilitating the exchange and sharing of

information (competent authorities, populations) on risks and disasters;

• Climate change and early warning

1. End user

Department of Livestock Services (DLS)

Management and monitoring of animal production

• Monitoring animal health, • Monitoring feed and water availability

1. End user 2. Provider of information

Ministry of Health

Management and monitoring of health policy

• Epidemiological monitoring bulletin 1. End user 2. Provider of information

DWR and NEA

Management and monitoring of ambient air quality

• Production of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and periodic bulletins

1. Supplier 2. Sector technical partner for the production

Department of Energy

Promotion of renewable energy, energy efficiency and domestic fuels

• Promotion and development of rural electrification

• Domestic fuel promotion, forest resource management

1. End user

NEA Management and • Climate change and NAPs process 1. End user

23

monitoring of the environment

• Environmental management 2. Provider

Media Communication Information

• Dissemination of information (Press, written, National TV, community radios),

• Reporting of meteorological events • Outreach and awareness programs on climate

change (Press, written, National TV, community radio)

1. Information relay

NGOs/CBOs Community sensitization

• Dissemination of information 1. End user 2. Provider

24

SECTION 2: ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF CAPACITY After having reviewed the different actors expected to play a role in the NFCS_GAM, we now turn to an analysis of the action plan and needs required in the provision of climate services and information. The section presents the identified needs and budget for climate services at the national level as in table 3 below.

25

Table 3: Action plan for identified needs by sector SECTOR NEEDS EXISTENT GAPS PRIORITY ACTIONS INDICATORS ESTIMATED

COST IN USD ($)

AG

RIC

ULT

UR

E A

ND

FO

OD

SEC

UR

ITY

• Production of weather and climate information services adapted to users' needs

• Daily weather forecast at national level

• Absence of forecast at local and regional level

• Lack of weather presenters over GRTS TV and broadcasting in local languages at community radios

• Limited listening groups

• Improve the quality of the forecast • Downscale the forecast to local scale • Improve Infrastructure, high speed

internet • Evaluate existing systems • Disseminate forecast over media,

billboards and trough traditional communicators

• Establishment of more radio listening groups

• Forecast at both local and regional levels disseminated

• Number of billboards erected

• Information disseminated over GRTS, community radios and social media groups (WHATS APP)

80,000

• Meteorological data (humidity, temperature, rainfall, evapotranspiration etc.)

• Absence of sufficient agrometeorological (agromet) stations

• Inadequate conventional equipment

• Absence of flood forecasting systems

• Install 6 agromet stations • Prepare newsletter for monitoring and

forecasting agro-climatic risk zones • Update the climate database • Install conventional tools at all

stations • Provision of flood forecasting

equipment

• New stations installed • Number of news letters

published • All sectoral data is

digitalized • Soil sampling tools

acquired • Flood forecasting

systems installed

350,000

• Agrometeorological bulletins (dekadal)

• None prediction of pests infestation

• Lack of soil moisture prediction

• None availability and usage of NDVI data

• None identification of risk areas for bush fires

• Uncoordinated Early Warning System (EWS)

• None prediction of economic lost fro disasters

• Develop research and provide long-term climate change predictions

• Strengthen the national MWG • Support the multi-disciplinary

working group (MWG) • Support regional structures

• Number of bulletins published

• Number of maps per area

• Number of MWG reports increased

• Number of local people trained

250,000

• Lack of models including water balance, crop yield

• Unavailability of powerful software and more weather products including ECMWF ensemble forecasts

• Acquire license to access more ECMWF products

• Create a water balance model • Estimation of crop yield • Acquire soil sampling equipments

• Software purchased and installed

• 2 staff trained • Number of models

installed • Tools for soil sampling

15,000

26

acquired

• Seasonal and intra seasonal forecasts at local and national level

• Forecast of onset and cessation dates

• Seasonal forecasts

• None availability of forecast at local level

• Produce local forecasts and update those in the medium term

• Prediction of dry spell days • Prediction of off season rainfall • Prediction of length of season • Disseminate the forecasts before

June. • Organize sensitization workshops • Prediction of economic lost

• number of improved bulletins published

• quality of improved local forecast

• 2 staff trained • Number of sensitization

conducted

85,000

• Reliable weather and climate forecast (including risk prediction of infestations or phytosanitary damage)

• None existence of forecasts on agro-climatic risk zones

• Lack of efficient models

• Publish a newsletter for monitoring and forecasting agro-climatic risk zones

• Use of community radios in local languages

• Number of newsletters published

• Number of radio programs conducted

15,500

• Low coverage of weather forecasts in accordance with the users needs,

• Inadequate human and material resources

• Disseminate agrometeorological advice in (3 to 5) national languages at central and local level through GRTS, ACU, traditional communicators and Community Radios

• Install and / or rehabilitate 3 marine observation stations

• Number of newsletters, best practices, advice and guidance or alerts issued disseminated by sectoral groups

• Number of stations operational

145,000

• Monitoring of meteorological parameters at sea: wind, SST, tides etc.

• Lack of satellite data to monitor parameters at sea

• Improve the station network with automatic equipment

• Research on improvement of daily rainfall forecast

• number of stations created or rehabilitated

• Number of publications 350,000

• Information on the period

favourable to different cultural operations

• Lack of weather forecast at regional level

• Dissemination of information through radio and television panel discussions

• Improve forecast at local level • Training of trainers on hydro-

meteorological and climate information

• Training of farmers on socio economic benefit of climate information

• Number of training workshops organized

70,000

• Improved information through research and

• Support by regional projects and institutions like AGRHYMET Seminars

• Workshops-

• Low number of specialized staff in the provision of climate services and in climate change scenarios projections

• Training on tools for the provision of

climate services • Train users on the use of climate

information

• Number of staff per sector trained at different levels

• Number of roving seminars organized

100,000

27

training

• Conferences • Training in communication, information and technology

• None • Lack of research

methodologies • Lack of research tools

• Develop a pilot project to demonstrate the added value of climate information (food security, fisheries, and environmental protection)

• Number of research trials conducted

80,000

SUBTOTAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY 1,440,500 SECT

OR NEEDS EXISTENT GAPS PRIORITY ACTIONS INDICATORS ESTIMATED COST IN USD ($)

HEA

LTH

• Seasonal forecasts in flood risk areas, heat waves and dust or haze occurrences,

• General weather forecast

• Climatic parameters (temperatures rainfall insolation, humidity winds etc.)

• Daily and seasonal weather forecasts

• Absence of weekly and monthly bulletins on the risks of meningitis and malaria

• Special bulletins of warning and alters on heavy precipitations and extreme temperatures

• Establish a climate-health database on endemic and other diseases

• Publish a quarterly climate-health summary bulletin

• Number of specific weekly and monthly bulletins published

70,000

• Rainy season start date

• Riany season end date

• Absence of mapping of areas at risk of flooding;

• Absence of pollution measuring equipment

• Provide GIS software with a license • Mapping of water-logged areas • Provide statistic software with

license

• Number of maps on the main flood risk zones available

46,000

• Absence of scientific committee for climate health research

• Set up a scientific research committee on Climate / Health

• Number of published and popularized research bulletins

55,000

• Lack of diversified and better developed weather products including ECMWF ensemble forecasts and widely distributed

• Install 15 stations to measure air quality

• Dispose UV measuring devices • Produce flyers

• Number of new models developed or enhanced for research

320,000

28

• Climate change projection (as a planning tool in local development plans)

• Health climate report

• Long-term climate data

• None availability of websites, leaflets; seminars

• Absence of Air Quality Index (AQI) and dust

• Absence of an air quality observation network

• Organize joint training and awareness workshops

• Develop and make operational air quality forecasts models (dust model acquisition)

• Provide software for data homogenization

• Number of trained staff

• Insufficient qualified technical personnel for observations and analysis

• Train enough technical and multidisciplinary staff (Epidemiologist, Climatologist, Computer scientist, Statistician, etc.),

• Provide computers and data analysis software.

• Number of new staff trained and operational

• Number of computers

purchased

125,000

SUBTOTAL HEALTH 616,000

SECTOR NEEDS EXISTENT GAPS PRIORITY ACTIONS INDICATORS ESTIMATED COST IN USD

($)

WA

TER

RES

OU

RC

ES M

AN

AG

EMEN

T

• Climatological and hydrological data and information necessary for water resources management

• Seasonal forecast • Weather forecast

• Dissemination of early warning information

• None availability of evapotranspiration data

• Create a producer and user platform

• map and update station maps • Rehabilitate and secure the

facilities

• Data and

information are available in a convenient and easy-to-access format

150,000

• Statistics on cumulative rainfall, humidity, temperatures, etc.

• None measurement of evapotranspiration data

• Absence of intensity-duration-frequency of precipitation

• Install and operate an optimum meteorological network of evaporation pans as well as in large dams

• Installation of automatic rainfall monitoring stations

• Number of complete rehabilitated stations operational and secured

65,000

• Water levels, stream flows and saline front.

• Lack of long term series of 30 to 50 years for several stations

• Lack of mapping of surface water resources

• Statistics not extended at national level

• Digitize and analyze existing diagrams

• Set up a continuous service to analyze the diagrams

• Ensure real time monitoring • Acquire the digitalisations

software and others

• Hydro-meteorological database available and regularly updated

28,000

29

• Simulation of hydrological events during the rainy season (dry spells and intense rainfall)

• Production of weather, hydrology, hydro-geological and climatological information adapted to users needs

• Standardization and mutualisation of information and data of the meteorological and hydrological sector

• Simulation of temperature and precipitation events

• Simulation of hydro-meteorological, and impact scenarios not available.

• Simulation of meteorological and hydrogeorological data

• Exchange information on the state of sectoral databases created at the national level and harmonize the format for possible sharing

• Prediction of dry and wet sequences

• Number of cases where climate information has been better integrated into climate risk reduction

15,000

• Strengthening capacity

• Existing low-skilled and low-motivated staff

• Lack of motivation and specialization of staff

• Assessment and planning of training needs

• Strengthen staff capacity • Organization of training

sessions

• Number of trained staff

95,000

SUB TOTAL WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 448,000

30

SECTOR NEEDS EXISTENT GAPS PRIORITY ACTIONS INDICATORS ESTIMATED COST IN USD

($)

ENER

GY

• Create a

framework for reflection

• None • None partnership between DWR and the Energy sectors;

• Set up a committee of reflection to define the framework of work

• Minutes of meetings 20,000

• Information on mean wind speed at local level

• Knowledge of wind speed at the national level

• Taking into account weather and climate information in the preparation of sector policy documents (wind, temperature, isolation, hydrology)

• Inadequate measurement and communication devices at local level

• Lack of inter-sectoral meeting • Limited expertise at the local

level

• Set up devices for measuring average wind speed and direction at the local level

• Installation of mini automatic stations and evaporation pans

• Lists of climate products (bulletin, data, climate forecast, etc.) available

• Number of bulletins disseminated

• Minutes of meetings

80,000,

• Information on wind direction at different altitudes with reference to ground level

• SMS, email, phone calls, paper and electronic data supplies

• Radio and television

• Knowledge of the prevailing wind direction in all regions and localities of the country

• Lack of upper air stations • Lack of Internet connection

between services and specialist in communication

• Establish an effective device for communicating wind parameters in real time at the local level

• Purchase of upper air station

• Number of bulletins published

• Upper air station installed

180,000

• Strengthen local capacities in collecting and disseminating wind data

• Number of air times with radio and television

15,000

• Increase network density, data collection, processing and dissemination

• Number of stations established

15,000

• Strengthen capacities and financial technical means,

• Establish a broadband connection between services

• Availability of the connection

142,000

• Information on sunshine duration at local level

• Sunshine cards • Two automatic

stations

• Inadequate information on duration of sunshine at the national level

• Inexistence of a map of the sunshine duration at national and regional level

• Establish a system for sharing the information

• Strengthen the solar radiation measurement devices at the local level (duration, ....)

• Number of operational stations

• Activity reports 22,000

• Information on solar radiation at local level

• Few automatic stations

• Inexistence of a map of the solar deposit at national level

• Staff training (internship, workshop etc.)

• Put in place an effective

• Availability of data in the appropriate

195,000

31

system of communication and dissemination of solar information at the local level

format • Number of staff

trained • Number of

communication devices available

SUB TOTAL ENERGIE 579,000

SECTOR NEEDS EXISTENT GAPS PRIORITY ACTIONS INDICATORS ESTIMATED COST IN USD ($)

Dis

aste

r R

isk

Red

uctio

n

• Disaster Risk

Management

• National Disaster Management Agency

• Limited collaborative partnership between the national weather service and the DRM sectors;

• Strengthen the coordination platform for exchange between the national weather service and disaster management institutions

• Number of coordination meetings 10,000

• Inadequate qualified staff specialised in all sectoral services

• Training of staff in disaster management services in the field of meteorological and climatological information and interpretation systems

• Number of staff trained in the sector 62,000

• Mapping of climatic hazards (heavy rains, winds, dry episodes, evaporation, temperature) at the local level

• Climatology of extreme values

• Inadequate dissemination of predicted climatic hazards to the public

• Inadequate qualified expertise

• Establishment of at least 5 additional stations

• Analysis of climatic data to determine extremes, risk cycles and zones

• Number of stations established

• Number of reports published

368,000

• Identification of risk areas • Strengthening staff capacity on

risk analysis • Development of a

comprehensive strategic impact assessment study

•

• Number of staff trained

125,000

• Mapping flood risk • Long series of • Low density of • Strengthening the ground • Number of 122,000

32

areas and their level of vulnerability

climatological and hydrological data

observation network • Absence of a flood

risk plan

observation network and staff • Production of a flood risk plan

for selected sectors

observation networks strengthened

• GIS on major risks in the country at NDMA

• Availability of climatological and hydrological data

• Inadequate information system on major risks

• Inadequate specialists in all sectoral services for remote sensing / GIS

• Establishment of GIS on major risks at NDMA

• Training of staff in disaster management services in the field of meteorological and climatological information and interpretation systems

• Number of GIS Labs established

• Number of staff trained

62,000

• Multi-hazard EWS • Prediction of extreme climatic temperatures

• Daily and seasonal forecast

• Low accessibility to non-climate information

• Absence of Inter connectivity between weather and users

• Absence of a national flood forecasting system

• Development of a multi-risk EWS

• Development of a multi-sectoral and multi-risk contingency plan

• Updating existing databases and initiate a sectoral EWS for better information to users

• Regular broadcast of bulletins on climate extremes throughout the year

• Multiply channels of diffusion (Communicators training)

• Improving collaboration between meteorological services and other users

• Set up a flood forecasting system • Staff training

• List of climatic products (bulletin, climate forecast, etc)

• Activity

report

• Number of staff trained

150,000

• Research activities on climate risk management

• Research institutions

• Research activities on climate risk management not very developed

• Support research activities at the national level on risks and disasters (UTG, NARI)

• Number of documents published 20,000

SUB TOTAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION 919,000

33

Table 4: Action plan for identified transversal needs

SECTOR NEEDS GAPS ACTIONS INDICATORS COST IN USD

($)

Com

mun

icat

ion

and

awar

enes

s

• Radio programmes on the scope and importance of climate services, including outreach to communities

• Lack of communication platform between actors for better access and use of climate services

• Limited listening groups for information dissemination

• Lack of mobility at

pilot sites

• Lack of high-speed internet

• Poor radio coverage

at national level

• Research results and weather information very poorly shared with end users

• Signature of protocols with various media to produce 52 thematic programs during the year (including one per week)

• Number of radio programmes realized and area covered

350,000

• Quality system of the information and channel of information flow provided

• Capacity building of actors and decision-makers

• Understanding of the language used for the dissemination of climate information to the final beneficiaries

• Establishment of a quality system of the information provided

• Create a platform for the exchange of information between producers and users.

• Establishment at community level (end users) a platform for discussion and exchange of information between user groups

•

• Number of stakeholders trained

• Definition of a dedicated communication strategy (agriculture, health, disaster, energy, water, etc.)

• Initiate a manual for understanding key terms and concepts in 4 - 5 local languages

• Provision of mobility for pilot sites

• Number of manuals developed

• Number of motor bikes purchased

• Dialogue between actors • Access to weather information

• Train media staff for greater appropriation of weather information

• Organization of training workshops on climate services • Training of actors to understand technical language in

English and in local language for community radios in the regions

• Number of stakeholders trained

SUBTOTAL COMMUNICATION AND AWARENESS 350,000

34

SECTOR

NEEDS GAPS ACTIONS INDICATORS COST IN USD

($)

Inst

itutio

nal s

tren

gthe

ning

(hum

an r

esou

rces

, equ

ipm

ent,

mob

ility

and

infr

astr

uctu

re)

• Optimization of hydro-meteorological observation network

• Weak national observation network

• Lack of basic equipment

• Purchase and install automatic weather stations • Acquire and install weather stations with pollution sensors • Acquire and install marine stations at 3 landing sites

• Number of operational stations

371,000

• Acquire conventional equipment for 15weather stations • Purchase and install agrometeorological stations • Acquisition of soil sampling equipment

• Climate parameters provided for users

220,000

• Strengthen the hydrological observation for a sustainable monitoring of water resources (surface and underground water)

• Number of large basins equipped with measuring devices

140,000

• Human resources development

• Limited capacity of meteorological observers

• Training of meteorological and hydrological personnel at the Water Resources Training School

• Number of staff trained 77,000

• Limited human resources

• Training of staff at Bachelor lever at the University of The Gambia

• Specialized training of staff at the WMO Regional Centres

• Number of staff trained 175,000

• Short term training on meteorological and hydrological tools • Organization of on the job training • Organization of workshops, conferences and meetings at

local level

• Number of staff trained

• Number of workshops organized

80,000

• Tools for data analysis

• Limited equipment and tools for collecting and processing meteorological data

• Provide DWR with computer equipment and reprographic equipment

•

• Number of computer equipment purchased

25,500

• Data collection mechanises strengthened • None availability of

data collection vehicles

• Provision of 5data collection vehicles (Pick-up) • Provision of one Coaster vehicle for Water Resources

Training School and Central Forecast Office • Provision of 2 Station Wagon vehicles for administration

• Number of vehicles purchased 280,000

• Infrastructural development • Lack of

infrastructure to house meteorological

• Rehabilitation and construction of Offices and staff residences

• Number of buildings constructed and

270,000

35

equipment and staff rehabilitated SUBTOTAL MODERNIZATION OF HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATION NETWORK 1,219,500

SECTOR

NEEDS

GAPS

ACTIONS

INDICATORS COST IN USD

($)

Mai

nten

ance

of e

quip

men

t and

op

erat

ions

• Maintenance and upgrading of stations

• No frequent inspection of the network

• Lack of back-us systems

• Define a training plan on equipment maintenance for technicians

• Provision of storage equipment

• Number of storage facilities

• Number of equipment repaired

90,000

• Investments in support of different sectors including NMHS

• Network malfunction

• Providing logistical means (for field missions, maintenance and inspections) of technical staff and computer equipment 310,000

• Operation

• Operational cost not

available

• Provide fuel, ferry crossing and allowances • Provide consumables • Number of field

trips conducted • Number of staff

trained

320,000

• Capacity building to support new types of works.

• Insufficient human resources for maintenance of equipment

• Capacity building 40,000

SUBTOTAL MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL 1,165,000 GRAND TOTAL 7,927,000.00

36

2.1 Review of current status of production of climate information services The Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters (MoFWR&NAM) is the responsible Government Institution for the implementation of the Gambia National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS-GAM). It is mandated among others to operate a network of meteorological stations; to observe, monitor and predict the weather and climate over The Gambia for the provision of information to safeguard life and property. The observations and monitoring are done through a network of ten in-situ stations and twelve terrestrial automatic weather stations, one lightning detection and one marine station. Near real-time remotely sensed satellite observations and associated products provided by EUMETSAT are also used which provides imagery of the atmosphere-land-ocean every 15 minutes and allows monitoring, movement and the tracking of thunderstorm/rain bearing clouds, dust plumes, winds, forest fires and ocean waves. Weather information is received from regional entities such as ACMAD and AGRHYMET; whereas, weather and climate prediction products are also received from global centres such as NOAA/NCEP, ECMWF, UKMO, Meteo-France, AEMET and IRI. Given the specificity of these products and information, reception takes place on different time frames. The datasets, products and information received are analysed and results obtained are utilised in the production of various forecasts, advisories and warnings at the national level. It should be noted that this strategic information is free of charge for the Meteorology community through the collaboration agreements it has developed and its status as permanent representative to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In this area, the contribution of WMO is appreciable in the various networks and platforms for which it provides coordination for the benefit of member states. However, these opportunities do not hide the problems related to the obsolescence of observational infrastructures, telecommunication facilities including the gap in the use of forecasting systems and tools as well as the lack of human resources. To better understand the capability of the national framework that harmonizes the different climate information interventions, it is necessary to further diagnose the weather service (Department of Water Resources) which has an essential role in the provision and issuance of weather forecast (scale: range of few days) and the seasonal/climate forecast (scale: range of few months) for guidance and as a support decision tool. Table 5 below provides a clear overview of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

37

Table 5: SWOT analysis for the Department of Water Resources

Strengths Weaknesses • Structure in charge of Meteorology and

Hydrology: Representative of The Gambia to WMO

• Systematic observation of weather and climate for the global system coordinated by WMO

• Existence of a long historical climate database (since mid-1940’s)

• Existence of specialized human resources; • Existence of demonstration projects contributing

to visibility of the weather; • Plans to transform the meteorology division into

an independent entity seem to be a means of alleviating some of the concerns of the Department.

• Insufficient financial resources for investment; • Non-remuneration system and status of motivating

staff • Inadequate human resources capacity: the

Department is still battling with the inadequate human resources to carry out its activities;

• Insufficient means of transportation: mobility is a major problem especially went it comes to the monthly monitoring of the network stations in other parts of the country;

• Non-existence of a cost recovery system of services provided;

• Lack of visibility and a communication plan on the activities and contributions of meteorology for development;

• Impact and performance indicators not clearly defined;

• Poor infrastructure for staff residences in the provinces;

• Inadequate office materials and analysis tools such as desk top computer, printer and photocopier;

• Obsolete data collection and transmission instruments/equipment.

Opportunities Threats • Existence of favourable international initiatives

(AMCOMET, AGRHYMET, national, regional and global centres, existence of climate-related funds etc.);

• Demonstrated interest of technical and financial partners (resource mobilization through WMO, possibility of initial and continuing training grants, etc.);

• Increasing needs for meteorological and climatological products, information and services;

• Existence of themes that mobilize: Natural disasters of hydro-meteorological origin, climate-related diseases, renewable energies;

• Access to observations and products from global weather/climate prediction centers through international cooperation.

• Institutional instability; • Insufficient international resource mobilization; • Complete dilapidation of the hydrological and

Hydro-geological monitoring network; • Staff attrition: departures of trained staff due to lack

of incentives; • Potential for revenue generation for services rendered

to aviation is not harnessed; • Inadequate budget allocations: the demand for the

services of the Department is far more than the supply and as a result more funds are needed to be allocated to overcome those demand.

Source: Department of Water Resources strategic plan (2014 - 2016).

ü Network of meteorological observations

38

Figure 3 below provides the location of various operational weather stations that measure meteorological parameters such as rainfall, temperature, wind, humidity, atmospheric pressure and visual measurements such as dust, cloud types etc.

Figure 3: National Network of Meteorological Stations (superimposed rainfall map)

The frequency of measurements performed on the stations varies in accordance to the WMO priority and application areas (Synoptic, Aeronautical, Climatology, Agrometeorology, Marine, Hydrology, Aerosols etc). Information (data and messages) is exchanged in real time, nationally, and then globally, through the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). They constitute the initial state of the global circulation models of which the generated Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model outputs are sent to all WMO member countries. It is also worth mentioning that there are also 25 rainfall measuring stations distributed throughout the country. River tide gauges (surface water level measurements) have recently been installed by the Hydrology Division of DWR. A MESA reception station that provides photographs of the vegetation cover over the land surface has also been installed at the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Department of Water Resources. The data coming from the national network is essential for national and international monitoring for the provision of forecasts, advisories and warnings and allows for climate monitoring of rainfall and temperatures etc. The archived data is used for various applications: such as design studies of engineering structures, research in meteorology/climatology, agriculture, hydrology, etc. It is essential for studies on climate change and its impacts which require long-term data series both for the detection of changes and for the modelling of the future evolution of the climate.

39

Despite the importance of the data collected from the stations, the national network is in a state of degradation and advanced dilapidation with regards to the working conditions and the measuring instruments including the data processing and transmission equipment. In addition, the number of stations is far from reaching the standards recommended by the World Meteorological Organization and on the other hand, are insufficient to meet the objectives for the provision of climatological information and services to protect life and facilities. 2.2 Categories and Types of Climate Information and Services The Meteorology and Hydrology Divisions legally constituting the Department of Water Resources is the lead institution that provides climate information products and services. ACMAD and AGRHYMET Regional Centres also issue dekadal and monthly climate watch bulletins covering the entire West African Region. The Department elaborates several categories and types of climate information products and services for agriculture and food security. These include daily weather forecasts; dekadal famine early warning (agrometeorological) bulletins, seasonal climate out-looks, tailored information for users (farmers) and an annual climate bulletin comprising of observed climate trends including various types of climate mean maps on different parameters as briefly presented below. 2.2.1 Public Weather Services These are weather forecasts that are issued to the general public and agricultural communities on a daily basis. The information normally contains expected conditions of selected weather parameters and phenomena for different durations with validity periods ranging from one to three days over the entire country. The bulletin also includes a daily weather summary for the preceding day, and disseminated through the media (TV, Radio, Email-list of recipients and website) for broadcast to the general public. The information contained in the bulletin is also beneficial for marine activities and other areas at the request of users or in the context of specific projects. An almost permanent watch is made for high-impact and severe weather events. For maritime activities, the following weather forecast products are available:

ü Shipping forecast bulletins as part of the Global Maritime Surveillance, ü Fishing forecast bulletins for the needs of artisan fisher folks and leisure, and ü Warnings are issued when certain criteria or threshold are expected.

40

2.2.2 Seasonal Climate Outlook These are products that are developed for the three months of the rainfall seasons, July, August, September (JAS), and disseminated to the farmers and general public in probabilistic form with three categories: below normal, near normal and above normal to give an overall snapshot of the season with a monthly update. This information potentially allows producers to make a tactical choice on crop varieties and adopt strategies based on the overall profile of the season. The forecasts have been very crucial in the detection of the evolution of any significant anomalies that could impact negatively on the socio-economic activities of the country. Other information that is contained in the seasonal forecasts includes the onset and cessation dates, distribution of seasonal rains (dry spell periods) based on the selected analogue years, thus limiting the "re-sowing" due to "false starts" of the season. It should be noted that seasonal stream flow forecasts for JAS and monthly updates are also provided. These forecasts are derived from statistical and dynamical model outputs obtained from global prediction & research centers. Each year in the month of May prior to the Sahelian rainy season a regional climate outlook forum is organized by ACMAD and AGRHYMET in collaboration with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of West African countries. The forum provides a platform for interaction between providers and users of which a consensus product is generated. At national level, the prediction product is downscaled and a Seasonal forecasts issued for decision-making in agricultural production and food security, health, water and energy resources management. 2.2.3 Dekadal Famine Early Warning (agrometeorological) bulletin This bulletin contains a statistics of observed climate variables for the previous 10-days over the country. These statistics includes spatial and temporal performance of rainfall temperature, relative humidity and winds among others within the country. It also provides report on the stage of crop development, general assessment of crop performance including current and expected yield from the farms. Other crucial information includes commodity market prices, pests and pathogens, livestock situation (pasture, drinking points and diseases outbreaks) and hydrological situation which are collected through monthly treks, telephone calls, SMS and email messages. The bulletin also indicates a summary of the previous 10-days weather and an Extended Weather Outlook for the next ten days. 2.2.4 Annual Climate Reports

41

This product is given out on annual basis especially to stakeholders & decision makers. It gives the monthly variations of some weather variables (including rainfall, lightening, temperature, sunshine duration and intensity etc.) performance for every climatological zone in the country. Statistics on recent weather variables like rainfall are compared against the long-term mean. The report also provides climate updates as well as information on major regional/global climate scenarios associated with extreme climate events such as drought and floods. Some of these climate extremes have been associated with El Niño / La Niña events. 2.2.5 Tailored information for users This type of information is normally given out upon request. The major clients for this information are researchers (universities), construction companies, projects management units, international and regional organizations, agricultural entities, non-governmental organizations and community based-organizations. Some of the climate information required includes onsets and cessation dates for localized places, distribution of temperature, rainfall intensities (amount and time), climatological maps, climate change vulnerability assessment maps; observed climate variability indices for specified places, and advice on types of crops to be grown for particular regions among many others. 2.2.6 Climate change projections Climate change has become a reality and its effects are already being felt. Any sustainable sectoral action must incorporate climate change projections into its planning. It is now clear that human activities have contributed to the rise in average global surface temperature over the past 100 years. This warming commonly referred to as global warming, is mainly attributed to increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the major cause of which is the increased burning of fossil fuels. The Department of Water Resources being The Gambia’s focal point has contributed significantly to both UNFCCC and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) activities and recently participated in the preparation of the country INDC report. The INDC report depicts the state of the climate as well as the most likely projections in The Gambia on the horizon of the National Development Plan. According to Stafford, 2018, there is an increasing trend in mean maximum temperature over The Gambia’s land territory of approximately +0.035°C annually with higher temperatures in the Eastern sectors and a significant reduction of average seasonal rainfall. A shift on the start of the rains as well as, increased severe storms and longer dry spells are also experienced. These variations in climate will affect the health, economic development and overall well-being of a large

42

number of people. Hence, the DWR forecast for future expected conditions are of paramount importance for NFCS-GAM priority sectors. 2.2.7 Research reports Meteorological and climate sciences are booming thanks to a better knowledge of the climate system and meteorological phenomena but also thanks to the advancement of technology (e.g. satellite, internet). The research is intended to improve our knowledge but also to respond to a number of emerging and up-to-date questions that reflect the real needs of the populations subject to the impact of climate variability and extreme weather events. The following research activities are conducted:

• The African monsoon system; • Observed climate variability and future climate change; • Climatic extremes and high impact weather events.

These activities are often carried out through partnerships with our national university (University of The Gambia - UTG) or regional research centers (AGRHYMET Regional Centre, African Centre for Meteorological Application and Development (ACMAD) and West African Science Services Centre for Climate Change and Adapted Land-use (WASCAL) or within the framework of projects funded through calls for proposals or in partnership with programs and institutions. The most urgent research questions are:

• weather predictability; • seasonal forecast including the beginning and end of the rainy season; • better forecast accuracy in time and space (downscaling); • a better understanding of intra-seasonal and inter-annual variability; • future climate changes and their potential impacts in socio-economic activity

sectors; • better identification of extreme events and their projection into the future.

43

SECTION 3: PRIORITY ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN TO REDUCE GAPS AND MEET USER NEEDS In The Gambia the limited availability of climate information is leading to increased challenges in managing, planning and coordinating the response to severe weather events such as droughts and floods. A key challenge has been the “last mile” of Early Warning System (EWS), i.e. in reaching the most remote and vulnerable population with timely, meaningful, and actionable warning information and in integrating a gender perspective into EWS. Several gaps persist due to weak coordination among the actors and agencies concerned, limited public awareness and participation as well as insufficient political commitment. These gaps in the needs of climate services can be summed up to include:

• Poor infrastructures housing meteorological equipment and staff • Irregular and unreliable collection and processing of hydrometeorological information

and data; • Low levels of capacity, skills and human resources for the provision of climate

services; and • Ineffective communication of climate information and services to end users.

Additional efforts are needed to institutionalize and strengthen the NFCS-GAM to deliver warnings at the national level that are tailored to user needs across many sectors. For this purpose, the structures providing climate information need to refine their climate products and services specifically to the demands of each of the priority sectors. Most of the identified needs for each of the priority sectors are recorded in Table 4 and will be implemented through four (04) components or pillars summarized in the table 6.

44

Table 6: Selected priority activities to reduce gaps

Barrier Proposed priority activities to reduce gaps

Component Output Proposed activity

Weak institutional coordination between service provider institutions leading to limited packaging, translating and disseminating climate information and warnings. Poor infrastructures housing meteorological equipments and staff

Component 1: Institutionalization and Sustainable Financing of the Activities of the National Framework for Climate Services

Output 1.1. Institutional partnership developed for sustainable financing of the operation and maintenance of the installed meteorological observation network. Output 1.2. Offices and staff residential quarters at regional meteorological centers enhanced.

1.1.Follow-up actions (validation / signature of the bill), advocacy for the effective and sustainable implementation of the action plan 1.2. Monitoring and advocacy actions for the effective and sustainable implementation of the action plan by the DWR and its partners 1.3. Determining a sustainable source of funding for NFCS-GAM activities 1.4 Construction and renovation of offices and residential houses at regional stations.

Inadequate weather and climate monitoring and data collection infrastructure, which limits, detection of climate trends, analysis and provision of timely climate services.

Component 2: Production of hydro-meteorological information and climate services tailored to the needs of partners and end-users

Output 2.1. Automatic Weather Stations (marine & pollution) procured and installed, and 30 existing manual and automatic monitoring stations rehabilitated. Output 2.3. Weather and climate forecasting systems upgraded, including the installation of the required hardware and software and integration of satellite observations. Output 2.4. Capacity

2.1 Strengthening the observation network, collection and transmission of weather and climate data 2.2. Provision of vehicles and motor vehicles to ensure timely data collection and monitoring 2.3. Inventory of existing climate and sectoral database and strengthening of data management system for the setting up of a hydrometeorological database to initiate sectoral EWS

45

developed for operating and maintaining the climate observation network and related infrastructure including repair meteorological equipment, computer infrastructure and telecommunications network.

2.4 Support for research activities in the field of climatology 2.5 Production of climate services responding to identified sectoral needs

Limited communication infrastructures that timely dissemination of meteorological and climate information and services

Component 3: Improved communication and access to climate services by stakeholders and end users

Output 3.1 Communication channels and procedures for issuing warnings are enabled at a national level, and implemented at a regional level.

3.1. Development of a communication strategy for climate services consistent with the regional strategy 3.2. Establishment of a framework of exchange between producers, broadcasters and users of climate information and services 3.3 Setting up a functional multi-risk EWS 3.4 Training of media personnel (community radios, local communicators, etc.)

Limited knowledge and capacity to effectively monitor and predict future weather and climate events as a result of an acute shortage of technology and skilled human resources, as well as access to climate models and hardware. Low community level uptake of warnings, advisories and available climate/weather information.

Component 4: Building human resources and users capacity for provision of climate services and optimal understanding and use of climate information and services

Output 4.1. Technical capacity of DWR is developed to improve the production of standard and customized weather and climate forecasts and packaging meteorological data and information into a suitable format for user agencies and local community end-users. Output 4.1 Capacity of end users at national and regional level enhanced.

4.1. Human and technical capacity building of the hydro-meteorological and sectoral services 4.2. Training and capacity building of sectoral and meteorological technicians in a multidisciplinary approach 4.3. End-user training in climate services 4.4. Production of teaching materials and their translation into national languages for the benefit of end-users 4.5. Production of climate

46

impact documentaries and adaptation practices that have been successful in raising awareness among end-users.

3.1 National action plan for the implementation of NFCS-GAM This section summarizes the proposed priority activities to address the identified gaps in the preceding sub-section to overcome the different gaps listed, the partner institutions for carrying out activities and the overall budget for each activity. 3.1.1 Description of actions to implement the activities of the NFCS-GAM Action Plan The analysis of the gaps and needs expressed by the providers and users of climate information in the five targeted sectors has made it possible to define priority actions to be implemented through the four main components.

• Component 1: Institutionalization and Sustainable Financing of the Activities of the National Framework for Climate Services.

The NFCS-GAM offers a unifying framework bringing together all actors of the national chain for climate services, which in a synergy of actions, will link climate knowledge to early action in the field. A sustainable funding mechanism will, however, be important to ensure the sustainability of NFCS-GAM operations. DWR, a leading player in the NFCS-GAM, is currently planning to become an agency with autonomous management; as in almost all meteorological services in Africa, hence the need for it to have financial autonomy both for its operation and for the accomplishment of its tasks. Thus, for the implementation of this component, the following proposals for actions can be explored:

47

a). To agree on a Memorandum of collaboration with partners (e.g. insurance companies, private sectors, GSM operators, research centers and institutes, etc.) in the execution of some vital activities for early warning, protection of civil society and information to the general public; b). Advocate for a distribution of royalties on aeronautical and marine activities between entities contributing to the development of these public activities; c). Advocate for a fraction of the resources of the Climate Change Special Fund (CCSF) to be allocated to the operation of the NFCS-GAM.

• Component 2: Production of hydro-meteorological information and climate services tailored to the needs of partners and end-users.

ü Strengthening the observation network, collection and transmission of

hydrometeorological and climatic data The DWR observation network suffers from certain weaknesses that the project must address in order to achieve satisfactory results; in fact, according to the "WMO-WMO Guide No. 488", relating to the design of observation networks, the meteorological network of The Gambia (11 000 km²) should be constituted as shown in Table 7. Table 7: WMO recommended distances between measuring stations Designation Distance between stations

(WMO Standard) Standard number of stations

Synoptic stations 100 km 5 Agrometeorological stations Unspecified As required Climate stations 50 km 10 Rain gauges 10 km 50 The project development that the NFCS-GAM is seeking aims to achieve the following objectives as indicated in table 8:

48

Table 8: Estimated standard number of stations for The Gambia

Designation Objective to

reach Current state

To be strengthened

by the CCEWS Project

Margin to be filled by

NFCS-GAM

Synoptic stations 5 2 2 3 Agrometeorological stations

4 0 0 4

Climate stations 10 8 8 2 Maritime Stations 3 1 0 2 Automatic weather stations

20 9 4 7

Rain gauges 50 25 0 25 As an effort to eradicate mercury based instruments recommended by the Minamata Convention and to strengthen the observation network, the CCEWS Project will replace all the twelve conventional weather stations including the Banjul station which has been vandalized in 2018, and has not been operational for almost one year. In addition, the project will also operationalize three agrometeorological stations that were closed in 2010. With the exception of the new automatic stations installed by the CCEWS Project, it should be noted that almost all stations operate well below the standards prescribed for them. In fact, insufficient financial, human and material resources mean that current equipment is not well maintained, undermining the reliability of the data collected. Staff training in hydro and weather network optimization must be one of the primary activities of the component. Given the reduced number of agrometeorological and marine stations, they should be completely renewed and new automatic synoptic stations created. In addition, for better development of good data resolution, care will be taken to develop and encourage capacity building for integrating satellite data with current data to generate a databank at grid points.

ü Human and technical capacity building of the Hydro-Meteorological Services The production of hydrometeorological information, products and climate services reliable and adapted to the needs of users requires a highly qualified and sufficient number of staff. The current finding is that the national structures responsible for producing climate

49

information and services do not have enough qualified staff. In addition, there is an aging of staff, already insufficient, to such an extent that it is necessary to deal with non-professional observers for the collection of hydrometeorological data. As for the measurement of rainfall data, DWR uses staff at agricultural mix-farming centers to collect and record the data. The modernization of the network of observations induces the quantitative and qualitative reinforcement of the personnel which is justified by the fast evolution of climate sciences. The need to train climate scientists and hydrological professionals is constant, as well as upgrades to have a competence to meet the specific demands for a very diverse users.

ü Inventory of existing climate and sectoral database and strengthening of data management system for the setting up of a hydrometeorological database to initiate sectoral EWSs

A harmonized database available on a platform accessible to all stakeholders is a prelude to building a multi-sectoral EWS. Therefore, a functional and technical capacity to this system is essential for the services providing climate information to have a database management system (DBMS) to develop an early warning system based on forecasts (daily, decadal, seasonal, climatic, etc.).

ü Capitalization and securing of hydrometeorological and climate data Securing data is a guarantee of a better database and analysis over longer, diverse sets of data that meet the needs of users. It is therefore advisable to digitize the existing meteorological data on paper (observation registers, return forms, etc.) and to better secure them in the event of fire or natural disasters on archiving systems and appropriate storage conditions. The idea of entrusting the safeguarding of this database and others to a central databank can be explored in view of their importance and the risks to which the data are exposed.

ü Training and capacity building of sectoral and meteorological technicians in a multidisciplinary approach

From the National Consultation Workshop for the establishment of the NFCS-GAM (held in June 2018) and the regional consultations conducted with stakeholders and users, it appears that the weather jargon is difficult to understand and this significantly limits the judicious use of meteorological data and information. The lack of a platform and financial means does not allow to provide adequate assistance enabling rural producers to understand and assimilate meteorological and climatological information.

ü Support for research activities in the field of climatology

50

In the field of meteorology and climatology, research is only limited to isolated works by students of academics institutions (AGRHYMET Regional Center and WASCAL) who do not fully address the themes related to the impact of climate change on climate change sensitive sectors. For good reason, there are no dedicated training or research channels specifically devoted to these disciplines in academic institutions or in key structures in The Gambia. However, the Department of Water Resources has always actively participated in research and development activities through collaborative programs at both national and regional levels. To this end, the main gaps to be filled in the field of research remain related to the lack or inadequacies of models and analytical tools used and the low human capacity for research at national level. Thus, the major challenges that research must address to ensure that climate services can facilitate more effective decision making can be summarized as follows:

• Better understand how climate affects people and sectors and ensure that the benefits of climate science progress can be translated into concrete actions for users. Thus efforts to narrow the gap between progress in science and its use in the field must be provided.

• Interdisciplinary and participatory research involving professionals, researchers,

policy-makers and practitioners in the climate-sensitive sectors would be essential. For this purpose one of the prerequisites remains the fluidity of data exchange between disciplines, which has been an obstacle to interdisciplinary research in the past and which unfortunately continues.

• The weak capacity of national and regional institutions to meet research and

development challenges in the climate and meteorological field must be resolved as soon as possible.

University institutes should be supported to open up specific fields in the field of atmospheric sciences. The Research and Application (R&A) section of the Department of Water Resources needs to be strengthened with personnel, tools and equipment to better organize its participation in collaborative research activities at national and international level (WMO, IPCC etc.).

ü Production of climate services responding to identified sectoral needs

51

The DWR produces daily weather forecast (valid for 24 hours) usually containing information on rainfall, wind, minimum and maximum past temperatures, etc. The information is processed and provided in a traditional way, for lack of capabilities in predictive modeling of weather and climate. The implementation of the NFCS-GAM must allow changing this state of affairs in order to improve the quality, the respect of the dates of publication and the regular update of the web site which will be put in place.

• Component 3: Improved communication and access to climate services by stakeholders and end-users.

The diagnosis of the information exchange and communication mechanism between the stakeholders showed that there is not a standard channel (website for example) where users can access meteorological and climatological information at any time. In addition, there is no framework that can allow for permanent interaction (effective two-way communication) between users and providers of climate information in order to develop optimal application and use of weather and climate information and services.

ü Development of a communication strategy for climate services consistent with the regional strategy

The absence of a platform for direct user access to climate information at all times limits the application and optimal use of weather and climate information and services. Consequently, the provision of adequate financial resources will make it possible to provide climate information to the information provider (s) and initiate a dynamic plan for the dissemination of climate information that meets the needs of end-users. For this, the following actions should be considered: o The complete diagnosis on the communication of climate information and; o The development of a climate information communication plan is the key to improving

the dissemination and communication of weather and climate information.

ü Establishment of a framework of exchange between producers, broadcasters and users of climate information and services

The lack of regular meetings with planners and decision-makers to enable them to better understand the meaning and scope of meteorological information in order to better integrate them into their various programs and actions are all challenges. Hence the need to have a platform of gathering with sufficient financial means to revitalize the future MWG that will be set up so as to obtain a base that will allow users to fully play their roles.

52

At this level the NGOs and the press organs will play important roles articulated around actions such as:

• Periodic consultation meetings between producers climate information and services and end users (at regional, district and ward levels);

• Periodic meetings with different climate services producer groups through the MWG; • Roving seminars for farmers, sensitization workshops for users in sectors other than

Agriculture, meteorological days associated with each of the 5 sectors; • Development of two information portals (a website for DWR and for the NFCS-

GAM) as well as their update; • Organization of media-weather days, training and sensitization workshops for

journalists (at least twice a year during the period of the project); • Promotion of the use of mobile telephones and radios in the communication of

climatic information by the establishment of a designated group of user focal points; • The promotion of the teaching of meteorological science in public and private

educational establishments at the national level in collaboration with the departments concerned.

ü Setting up a functional multi-risk EWS

During the regional consultation workshops on the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS-GAM), stakeholders expressed their needs and identified remaining bottlenecks in the climate information production chain for users. For example, the need for the establishment of a multi-risk early warning system and also requested that evolution of weather and climate must be constantly monitored, documented, synthesized and published in real time for decision-making, civil protection and relief measures.

ü Training of media personnel (national and community radios, local communicators, etc.)

The training of media personnel and local communicators at least twice a year through a memorandum of understanding or contracts within the administrative regions for the dissemination of climate information is an asset. Radio plays, documentaries, TV shows etc. at national and regional levels are designed to enable users to understand, interpret and apply warnings and advice according to natural hazards or disasters.

• Component 4: Building users capacity for optimal understanding and use of climate information and services

ü End-user training in climate services

53

Most stakeholders and end-user are not able to understand the technical jargon associated with weather and climate messages or information, the meaning, the limits and the way of using various forecasts. Communication and promotion of weather and climate information, products and services are undertaken by the Department of Water Resources during workshops and roving seminars and at times during the meteorological day celebrations. In summer, information is often provided via the media (TV, radio, bulleting ...), but it would be necessary to train users and the media so that the contents of the messages are relevant, accurate and timely, and above all well received and understood by end-users.

ü Production of teaching materials and their translation into national languages for the benefit of end-users

The production of didactic materials including glossaries on the terms and concepts of communication, videos and presentations in PowerPoint format, brochures, leaflets, articles etc. and their translation into local languages for the benefit of end-users is a springboard for the dissemination of information. In addition to the translation of the different products in a clear language and a format accessible to the users, these materials need to be sufficiently popularized.

ü Production of climate impact documentaries and adaptation practices that have been successful in raising awareness among end-users.

Production of documentaries produced in clear language and format accessible to users; for example, periodic consultation meetings between providers of climate services and end users, produced on a user-accessible medium, will be used to convey successful experiences of adaptation practices to climate change. 3.2 Timeline of planned priority activities This section describes the participatory methodology used to prioritize the activities proposed in the 5-year priority activities implementation schedule, ranging from short-term to mid-term activities. A timeline for the implementation of priority activities (see Annex 2) is proposed to the participants of the next validation workshop. An activity is prioritized if it gets a large number of voters (e.g. score 10) testifying the urgency of the implementation of this action that participants want in the short term. In various interviews added to the expert judgment,

54

the activities summarized in the table below will be able to obtain in order of merit the best scores. Table 9: Short-term activities and costs Priority Priority Activities Budget USD

1 2.5 Production of climate services responding to identified sectoral needs

2 ,800,000.00

2 1.4 Construction and renovation of offices and residential houses at regional stations.

2,500,000.00

3 2.2. Provision of vehicles and motor vehicles to ensure timely data collection and monitoring

420,000.00

4 4.1. Human and technical capacity building of the hydro-meteorological and sectoral services

1,500,000.00

5 3.2. Establishment of a framework of exchange between producers, broadcasters and users of climate information and services

1,500,000.00

6 4.2. Training and capacity building of sectoral and meteorological technicians in a multidisciplinary approach

150,000.00

7 4.3. End-user training in climate services 91,000.00 8 3.4 Training of media personnel (community radios, local

communicators, etc.) 390,000.00

9 1.1. Follow-up actions (validation / signature of the bill), advocacy for the effective and sustainable implementation of the action plan

300,000.00

Total cost of short-term activities 6,851,000.00 The cost of the estimated budget needed to implement the short-term plan is estimated at seven million thirty-seven thousand three hundred (US $ 7,137,300) US dollars. Support costs to meet the climate services needs of the six sectors are US Dollars at four million six hundred twelve thousand three hundred and fifty (US $ 4,612,350) see Table 9 below. Table 10: Cost of activities in the short and medium terms N° Priority Sectors Budget USD 1 Agriculture and Food Security Sector 1 132 950 2 Disaster Risk Reduction Sector 830 000 3 Water Resources Sector 459 400 4 Health Sector 561 000 5 Transport Sector and Infrastructure 960 000 6 Energy Sector 669 000 Total cost of short-term shares 4 612 350

55

SECTION 4: Proposed institutional arrangement for Implementation of NFCS-GAM This section summarizes the proposed regulatory framework for climate services at the national level for the institutional arrangement of the operational plan for the climate services chain and user platforms. It aims at providing information on existing frameworks to facilitate consultation between providers and users of climate services in The Gambia. A number of structures are listed to better identify their potential role in the implementation of the NFCS-GAM. Thus, the NFCS-GAM's implementation plan will include the following stakeholders at the national level:

• The institution providing climate services, including the Meteorological and Hydrological Services of DWR, as well as other research institutions / applications in the field of climatology.

• Other state structures working in the area of climate-sensitive sectors in general and priority areas of the framework in particular.

• National platforms for disaster risk reduction, or other similar coordination mechanisms and national bodies, such as those of agriculture, health, water resources, energy and environment.

• Local Government authorities at regional level • Private sector organizations that are likely to be providers and users of climate

services. • Non-governmental organizations, national societies and community organizations. • Broadcasters of climate information, especially the media (public, private,

community), NGOs, and extension services. Most of the activities of the framework require collaboration between several institutions, and the implementation of various and complementary actions. Therefore, climate services improvement actions will generally involve participants from various organizations, and will combine the commitment of technical capabilities and "generic" functional capabilities needed to implement the first actions. Thus, the analysis of the role of the actors involved in implementing the NFCS-GAM shows that these structures have different but complementary missions in helping to make the best decisions. Figure 4 below gives a categorization that ranks NFCS-GAM member structures taking into account their specific mission and experience. The most decisive is to consider that the

56

NFCS-GAM is positioning itself as a platform whose mission will facilitate the work of each of the stakeholders. Figure 4: Organization Chart of the National Framework for Climate Services in The Gambia NFCS-GAM's bill establishing the organization and operation proposed in Annex 3 will specify the roles and responsibilities of each body.

FINAL TARGETS Decision makers, Planners, Private, Farmers, breeders,

fishermen, vulnerable communities

Inter-Ministerial Committee

INTERMEDIATE TARGETS Technical services of ministries,

Media, NGOs,

Technical and scientific committee

(DWR)

Technical support WMO and UN

Systems Agencies ACMAD

AGRHYMET

57

SECTION 5: SECTORAL POLICIES AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORKS 5.1 The Gambia’s commitment to climate change The Republic of The Gambia ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994 committing the country to the adoption and implementation of policies and measures mitigating the causes of climate change and adapting to its adverse effects. Since the ratification of the convention, The Gambia has taken very important steps to face the challenges and address the effects of climate change through the development, submission and implementation of her National Communications, the National Adaptation Programme of Actions (NAPA), the National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) and the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA). These documents have been developed to be in line with the national policies and programmes including VISION 2020, the PAGE and relevant sectorial policies, some of which are discussed here under. The development of the NFCS-GAM is therefore a step in the right direction towards enhancing The Gambia’s commitments and capacity towards climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience. The NFCS-GAM can deliver these through structured and coordinated provision of relevant climate data, information, products and applications to the users. 5.2 Existing legislative frameworks The constitution of the Republic of The Gambia recognises environmental rights and provides that everyone has the right to:

ü An environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and to

ü Have an environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation; and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development. There are a number of policies and acts that have already been passed for the protection of the Gambian people and their environment, specifically the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and the Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) policies. In the context of climate services, the DWR is the legally mandated institution, as per the National Water Resources Council Act of February 1979, and the National Water Resources Policy of 2006. The functions and responsibilities of DWR include:

58

ü Preparing an inventory of water resources of the nation,

ü Coordinate the planning of technical requirements of the water resources services,

ü Preparing plans for investing the rational management, use, control and protection of water resources,

ü Collecting archiving analysing and disseminating meteorological and hydrological data and products for various human uses,

ü Serving as the official voice in issuing weather warning for public safety as well as the national authority and official source of information and policy advice on the present and future state of the atmosphere and other aspects of national weather and climate, in support of development,

ü Exploring the existence, location and behaviour of underground water and to ascertain the quantity of such underground water and executing and enforcing laws and regulations affecting water. These activities have positive implications for natural resources conservation. The Act also encourages the sustainable use of water resources.

The National Hydrological and Meteorological Services (NHMS) provide technical services to implement the Water Resources Policy and strategies. The Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) sector comprise of the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries & Water Resources which deal mainly with policy issues whereas their seven (7) core agencies namely: Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Livestock Services, National Environment Agency, Parks and Wild Life and Water Resources deal specifically with programme implementation. Much of the sectoral policies and legislative frameworks do not adequately reflect the mainstreaming of climate change, within a sustainable development approach. However, significant efforts have been made to mainstream climate change into recent key policies and strategies of the ANR sector such as:

ü The Forestry Sub-Sector Policy (2010-2019), was updated in 2013 to highlight the impacts of climate change on forests, and the critical need to reduce deforestation and enhance ecosystem resilience, in the face of climate change;

ü The Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy (2009-2015), was revised in 2013 and

is currently being reviewed (Supplementary Agriculture and Natural Resources

59

Policy) - as at December 2017 to integrate climate change issues highlighting risks to food and cash crops, and livestock, from future climate change effects;

ü The Climate Change-Integrated Fisheries Strategic Action Plan (2012-2015), was

reviewed to place more emphasis on anticipated climatic impacts on fisheries, and to propose a number of adaptation response measures;

ü Three new Draft Bills namely, the Water Act, National Water Resources Management

Authority Act and Meteorological Authority Act awaiting formal approval and enactment by the National Assembly will repeal and replace the National Water Resources Council Act. These important pieces of legislation have been prepared taking into account issues of climate services;

ü A draft national Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Policy (2017-2021) has

been drafted with accompanying Guidelines and Procedures. The draft SEA Policy is aligned with and falls under the framework of the National Environment Management Act, (NEMA) 1994, and the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014; and

ü A National Climate Change Policy was developed and finalized in 2017 as an

overarching framework intended to steer the transition to a climate-resilient society, within a thriving low-emissions economy. It provides the framework for managing climate risks, building institutions and capacities, and identifying new opportunities for climate-resilient sustainable development in The Gambia. The Policy also sets in place enhanced institutional arrangements for coordination and mainstreaming, outlines a new integrated approach to resource mobilization, and develops a clear policy direction for human resource development.

Gender has not been significantly main-streamed into the existing ANR policy’s sub-sector policies and strategies though female-headed households are the main work-force in agriculture and should be a key focus of “rural resilience” efforts. This is a significant departure from the Gender and Women Empowerment Policy 2010-2020 which calls for the effective mainstreaming of gender perspectives into emerging crises such as climate change, disaster management and food crises.

60

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The NFCS-GAM is the framework representing a concentrated and coordinated global effort to improve the adaptation of society’s vulnerability to climate variability and change holistically through improved observations and monitoring, research and improved predictions, consolidated information systems, appropriate user interfacing and capacity development for both climate information professionals and users. There are already mechanisms and institutions in The Gambia providing climate services. However, these institutions need improved coordination. At a global scale, there are development plans addressing climate variability and change such as SDG and the UNFCCC to which The Gambia is part of. At a national level, development plans such as the NCCP, NAPs and NDP exist. The NFCS-GAM is aligned with global and national plans, and therefore mutual benefits will be reaped. The NFCS-GAM aims at enabling The Gambia to achieve goals set out in the GFCS Implementation Plan, and also will assist in the implementation of the NDP as it relates to climate services. Its success is dependent on institutional collaborations. The NFCS-GAM outlines the management systems and priorities for effective and efficient service delivery to the general public, who may be vulnerable to climate variability and change. Improved investment in infrastructure, human capital (climate service user and professional) and the latest technology are crucial aspects to the realisation of this goal. Now that the NFCS-GAM has been developed along with draft action plans for each sector, it is important to embark on the implementation process. This need to be done through utilisation of the relevant structures as recommend in this document. The NFCS-GAM has pronounced the establishment of an Inter-ministerial Committee, a Steering Committee and Scientific and Technical Committee as implementing committees. There is therefore a need to immediately embark on the process of establishing the Committees. The Gambia NMHS has insufficient number of qualified and skilled technical and support staff that will enable it to function optimally as required by its mandate. The human resources situation and requirements in other stakeholder institutions and organizations, particularly the Extension Services, Civil Society Organizations and the Media need to be addressed. These institutions and organizations are closer to and understand and speak the language of the main users (farmers, fisher folks, herders, etc) and can be used as agents of communication of climate services, advisories and other information. These stakeholder institutions will benefit from closer working relations with and capacity building from this NFCS-GAM.

61

At present the Gambia NMHS office and residential structures, vehicles for data collection and monitoring, observation networks, forecasting systems, communication systems and its allocation of financial resources from the domestic budget are woefully inadequate to ensure that it can meet the increasing needs of regional and local forecasting and provision of climate services and timely issuance of advisories for the different socio-economic sectors and the general public. The number of meteorological and hydrological stations is grossly inadequate and non- representative. The spatial distribution and density are poor as there are some large areas of the country that are not served by observation stations. The main reasons are inadequate financial allocation for construction of station infrastructure and the non-recruitment of staff. The lack of vehicles for data collection and monitoring has caused significant retards in the provision of timely weather and climate information and services for the different socio economic sectors of the country. To create the prerequisite infrastructure for the institutionalization of an efficient operational NFCS-GAM and a National Meteorological Services that meets its national, regional and global mandate, it is strongly recommended that:

• The Gambia National Meteorological and Hydrological Services needs to establish/strengthen its observational network in terms of building infrastructures to accommodate the equipment and staff of the department.

• Additional meteorological and hydrological observing and monitoring stations need to

be installed in order for the NMHS to improve its forecasts and provide the required climate services. Most of the surface synoptic stations are still manually operated hence there is a need to automate weather observation to increase the availability of real time data which will be made available for data exchange through the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) so that neighbouring countries can access the data for better regional and local forecasting inputs. Currently, observed data are transmitted to the Central Forecast Office through telephone which is not reliable on a 24-hour basis or during bad weather. In parallel with the planned modernization of the NMS and the increase in environmental monitoring stations, there must be an upgrade of the telecommunication system.

• To remedy the slow or non-replacement of meteorological and hydrological

equipment and instruments, it will be more cost-effective and feasible to strengthen the Instrument Repair Workshop to be staffed with skilled personnel and stocked with spare parts;

62

• To improve the meteorological and hydrological data collection and monitoring systems, it is necessary to provide vehicles and motor cycles to the different division and units including regional meteorological and hydrological services.

63

REFERENCE 1. AfDB, 2006. The Gambia Tourism Development Master Plan. Banjul, The Gambia.

2. AGRER, 2017. Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR) Volume I: Main Report. Banjul, The Gambia

3. Bertels, W.L, Furman, C.A, Diehli, D.C, at al., 2013. Warming up to Climate Change: A participatory Approach to Engaging with Agricultural stakeholders in Southeast US. Regional Environmental Change, August 2013, Vol, 13.

4. Bojang, L., Jallow, A.O., Mbye, B., Loum, M.K., 2005. Country study on assessment of vulnerability to climate change in the forest and woodlands ecosystem and to propose adaptation options Consultancy Report Prepared for NAPA Project LDL 2328 2724 4699. Banjul, 21p.

5. CADRI, 2012. Disaster Risk Reduction Capacity Assessment Report The Gambia. Banjul, The Gambia.

6. Congressional Research Services (CRS), 2012. Rio +20: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Brazil.

7. DWR, 2013. Department of Water Resources strategic plan (2014 - 2016). Banjul, The Gambia.

8. GBOS, 2013. National Census. Banjul, The Gambia.

9. GoTG, 2003. First National Communication under the UNFCCC. Department of State for Fisheries, Natural Resources and the Environment., Banjul the Gambia., 94p.

10. GoTG, 2007. National Disaster Management Policy, Banjul, The Gambia.

11. GoTG, 2010. National Forest Assessment 2008-2010. Ministry of Forestry and the Environment (MoFEN), The Gambia.

12. GoTG, 2012a. The Gambia’s Second National Communicationunder the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Ministry of Forestry and the Environment, Banjul, 113p.

13. GoTG 2012b. The Gambia Labour Force Survey (GLFS 2012). Final Document. Banjul, The Gambia.

14. GoTG, 2013. Participatory Integrated Watershed Management Project (PIWAMP). Main report and appendices. Banjul, The Gambia.

15. GoTG, 2014. The Fifth National Report to The Convention on Biological Diversity. Wildlife Management Headquarters, Abuko, The Gambia.

64

16. GoTG, 2017. The Gambia National Development Plan (2018-2021). Banjul, The Gambia.

17. GoTG/EU, 2016. National Climate Change Policy of The Gambia. Banjul, The Gambia.

18. GoTG/UNDP, 2015. Gambia National Adaptation Plan Process. Stocktaking report and a road map for advancing Gambia’s NAPs process. Draft final report: 20 July 2015. A joint UNDP-UNEP Initiative.

19. GoTG/UNEP, 2016. GCF Funding Proposal ‘Large-scale Ecosystem-based Adaptation in The Gambia: developing a climate resilient, natural resource-based economy’.

20. GoTG/WB, 2016. Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Policy (2017- 2026). Banjul, The Gambia.

21. FAOSTAT, 2015. Forestry data extracted from FAOSTAT at http://faostat3.fao.org/browse/ F/*/E(3.12.2015).

22. Izrael Yu. A., 1991. USSR: Climate Change Impact Study: IPCC Working Group II Report.

23. Gianluca Ragusa, 2014. Overview of the Fisheries Sector in The Gambia. Short Communication. Fish Aquac J 2014, 5:3. http://www.omicsonline.com/open-access/overview-of-the-fisheries-sector-inthe-gambia-2150-3508.1000107.pdf.

24. Njai, S.E. & Njie, M., 1998. Overview of artisanal fish processing in The Gambia. Fisheries Department, The Gambia. pp 1-10. Unpublished.

25. IPCC, 2014. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC’s) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5).

26. Kirchhoff C, Lemos, M.C, Dessai, S., 2013. Actionable Knowledge for Decision Making: Broadening the Usability of Climate Services. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Vol. 38: 393-414.

27. Stafford G., 2018. 2017 Annual Climate Report: Summary for The Gambia. Department of Water Resources, Banjul, The Gambia

28. UNDP, 2007. Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world. New York.

29. UNDP, 2015. Gambia National Adaptation Plan Process: Stocktaking report and a road map for advancing Gambia’s NAP process. Banjul, The Gambia.

30. WCDR, 2005. Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. Japan.

31. World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), 2009. World Climate Conference-3.

65

Annex 1: Work plan for the implementation of major activities of the NFCS-GAM

COMPONENTS ACTIVITIES 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Q

1 Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Component 1: Institutionalization and Sustainable Financing of the Activities of the National Framework for Climate Services

1.1 Preparation, signature and dissemination of NFCS-GAM legal acts

1.2 Monitoring and advocacy actions for the effective and sustainable implementation of the action plan by the DWR and its partners

1.3 Determining a sustainable source of funding for NFCS-GAM activities

1.4 Construction and renovation of offices and residential houses at regional meteorological and hydrological stations

Component 2: Production of hydro-meteorological information and climate services tailored to the needs of partners and end-users

2.1 Strengthening the observation network, collection and transmission of weather and climate data

2.2 Human and technical capacity building of the hydro-meteorological and sectoral services

2.3 Inventory of existing climate and sectoral database and strengthening of data management system for the setting up of a hydrometeorological database to initiate sectoral EWS

2.4 Capitalization and securing of hydrometeorological data

2.5 Training and capacity building of sectoral and meteorological technicians in a multidisciplinary approach

2.6 Support for research activities in the field of climatology

2.7 Production of climate services responding to identified sectoral needs

Component 3: Improved communication and access to climate services by stakeholders and end

3.1. Development of a communication strategy for climate services consistent with the regional strategy

3.2. Establishment of a framework of exchange between producers, broadcasters and users of climate information and services

3.3 Setting up a functional multi-risk EWS

66

users 3.4 Training of media personnel (community radios, local communicators, etc.)

Component 4: Building users capacity for optimal understanding and use of climate information and services

4.1. End-user training in climate services

4.2. Production of teaching materials and their translation into national languages for the benefit of end-users

4.3. Production of climate impact documentaries and adaptation practices that have been successful in raising awareness among end-users.

67

Annex 2: Draft Bill on the organization and operation of NFCS-GAM Republic of The Gambia PRIMATURE Subject: Bill to establish, organize and operate the National Framework Climate Services. The Vice President Given the Constitution Considering Decree No. ............... .. appointing the Vice President; Considering the decree n ° bearing composition of the Government; On the report of the Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources AGREED Chapter 1: General provisions Article 1: For the creation A National Framework for Climate Services of the Gambia (NFCS-GAM) is created, a tool for decision-making adapted to the needs of sectors depending on weather conditions, variability and climate change. It is under the authority of the Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources. The NFCS-GAM is responsible for the: 1. Establishment of a permanent, dynamic and effective platform for dialogue and exchange between users and producers of climate services; 2. Establishment of communication channels between existing and functional national coordination structures such as the Disaster Risk Reduction Platform; 3. Strengthening of regional and international cooperation to facilitate the exchange of information, expertise and good practices among countries to promote the most appropriate adaptation measures. Chapter 2: Organization and operation Article 3: Organs

68

The NFCS-GAM for climate services comprises three bodies: - Inter-ministerial Committee; - Steering Committee (SC); - Scientific and Technical Committee (STC). Article 4: The Inter-ministerial Committee The role of the Inter-ministerial Committee is to develop and implement an appropriate policy, strategy and framework for decision making related to climate variability and extreme weather events. Article 5: The Inter-ministerial Committee includes: Chair: Office of the Vice President: Premature Members: The representative of the National Assembly; The representative of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources; The representative of the Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources; The representative of the Minister of Health; The representative of the Minister of Agriculture; The representative of the Minister of Energy The representative of the Minister of Local Government and Lands; The representative of the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs; The representative of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research The representative of the Minister of Information The representative of the Minister of Planning and Economic Development; The representative of the Minister of Information and Communication The representative of the Minister of Public Works The secretariat of the Inter-ministerial Committee will be provided by the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources in-charge of meteorology. The Committee meets once a year at the invitation of the Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources. The decisions of the Inter-ministerial Committee are taken by a simple majority of the members present. Article 6: Steering Committee The Steering Committee's missions include:

• Submit for the validation of the Inter-ministerial Committee an annual work plan; • Find sources of funding for the implementation of the action plans;

69

• Ensure systematic monitoring and monitoring and evaluation of the actions defined in the plans;

• Advocate for better management of climate services in national policies. The steering Committee is also in charge of all other missions that the Inter-ministerial Committee entrusts to it. Article 7: Members of the Steering Committee includes. Chair: The Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources Members : Director, Department of Water Resources, Chief Meteorology, Department of Water Resources Chief Hydrologist, Department of Water Resources UNFCCC Focal Point. Executive Director, National Environment Agency, Director General, Department of Agriculture, Director General, Department of Livestock, Executive Director, National Disaster Management Agency Director General, National Agricultural Research Institute, Director, Department of Public Health, Director, Department of Energy, The Director, WASCAL. UTG A representative of TANGO, A representative of farmer groups A representative of fishermen A representative of breeders, A representative from the press, Any other structure related to missions of the steering committee. The meteorology Division should act as Secretariat of the Steering Committee. The Committee should meet when convened by its chairman or on the instructions of the Inter-ministerial Committee, at least two (02) times a year. It can also meet whenever needed. The decisions of the Steering Committee are taken by a simple majority of its members present. Article 8: Scientific and Technical Committee (CST) The Scientific and Technical Committee's missions include:

• Implementation of the annual action plan;

70

• Ensure the implementation of the production and dissemination of services; • Set up climate information systems adapted to the needs of users; • Provide information adapted to the targeted sectors, such as analyzes based on

meteorological data, multi-time forecasts (daily, 10-day, monthly, seasonal), climate projections and their impacts on priority socio-economic sectors;

• Make climate information accessible in the main local languages; • Ensure the implementation of the information and awareness-raising actions of the

stakeholders. The Scientific and Technical Committee is responsible for all other tasks that the Steering Committee entrusts to it in carrying out its duties. Article 9.- The Scientific and Technical Committee includes: Chair: Department of Water Resources (DWR) Members: The technical experts designated from the structures constituting the Steering Committee. The Secretariat of the Scientific and Technical Committee is held by the Representative from the Meteorology Division. The Scientific and Technical Committee meets when convened by its chair person, at least four (04) times a year and whenever necessary. The decisions of the Scientific and Technical Committee are taken by a simple majority of the members present. Chapter 3: Final Provisions Article 10: Procedures for the appointment and termination of the duties of members The members of the Inter-ministerial Committee, the Steering Committee and the Scientific and Technical Committee are appointed in writing by their respective ministries and / or agencies. The committees could also appoint a substitute for each member. The function of member of said committees terminates with the termination of the functions for which the person has been designated by his / her department and / or the body concerned, or as a result of replacement made by decision. Article 11: The Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources, Health, Agriculture, Energy, Finance and Economic Affairs, Environment Climate Change & Natural Resources, Higher Education and Scientific Research, Information and Communication, Cooperation are

71

responsible, each as far as it is concerned, for the application of this act which will be published in the Official Gazette. Done in Banjul, on ......................... The Vice President Dr. Isatou Tour

72